With so many new cell phones and
applications in the marketplace today, it is best to educate yourself and
understand what all the new technology brings in functionality and accessibility
to help keep yourself and family safe. Here are some ways to protect your
family by being aware of what is lurking in the cell phone world:
Turn off your location device on
your cell phone. Be aware when you download a new application to check your
location device and make sure it is still turned off. Sometimes it will automatically turn on when
you download new apps or update or upgrade your cell phone.
Make sure you don’t let your
children download new apps without you watching. It is best to ask yourself;
why is this app free, what type of data can the app access, why does it have advertisements,
and can I tell what type of information the app can access.
Apps you download on your phone may
share, collect and store information about you such as places you visit, where
you are, contact lists, who you call and even data stored on your phone.
Do not respond back to spam because
that could result in even more texts. It is best to report it to your wireless
provider by texting 7726 (SPAM) on your keypad. Your wireless provider will
respond back asking for the number the spam came from. You need to send them
the number to complete the complaint.
Don’t always trust Caller ID. A
wrongdoer could spoof numbers on calls or text to make it look like it is from
someone else or someone you know.
Put your cell phone number on the Do
Not Call Registry to avoid the pesky automated calls or texts.
Malware can cause the same corruptions
to your cell phone as it can to your computer. Remember smartphones are just
mini computers. You can infect your phone by downloading apps or clicking on a
link from an email. It is always best to go to the source’s website to get the
information you need.
If you think your phone is infected,
back up the data and contact the manufacturer.
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