The 3 rules of a secure cell phone
Big brother is coming after your phone.
The government is increasingly interested in your calls, your movements, and your purchases. Don’t believe me? They don’t even need a warrant to seize your records anymore:
Think about this: you probably have your credit locked (or you should!); you have locks on your car and your house; you lock and encrypt your bank accounts and investments. But what is the one thing that has access to all of these things AND knows where you are and what you are saying at all times?
That’s right your cell phone is rapidly becoming the little spy in your pocket. Here’s how you can secure it today:
- Password protect. This will prevent most casual thieves from stealing your info, but 95% people don’t do this. Plus if a cop asks for your phone you are not obligated to give the password. For smartphones, apps like Lookout can be programmed to backup your data and help you find a lost phone.
- Encrypt your data. GadgetTrak offers a service that will encrypt your data and back it up in the cloud. There are ways around encryption, but this will stop 99% of hackers and police.
- Wipe it remotely. What if the police or criminals steal your phone and go to work hacking into it and getting your passwords, financial information, and recent whereabouts? Just use GadgetTrak, SeekDroid, or Webroot to remotely wipe your phone’s data. This can be done from your home computer.
These days you have to remember: the more access you have to your information, the more access everyone else has to your data. And companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are making sure all those devices are connected together seamlessly. Hackers could access one service, and then use its features to hack into your other services and steal your information or completely wipe out your data.
Keep your various devices and services separated as much as possible to limit the damage one lost item can do to you and your family.
My smartphone has been rendered a stupid phone. I have removed or made unusable every function except incoming/outgoing calls. No text, no Internet. Nothing. I even put a white dot over the camera on the front so that nobody can get a picture of me while I am on the phone. I’m not paranoid, just careful.
Do you really use your real name & address for those stupid cards? My problem is CVS & hospital both sold my true information. Legally I have to give them the proper information. Also my cellphone is unlimited old style flip phone, no GPS, email is a free account in a unknown name. I found out a friend who died 2 weeks ago had his computer sold without it being wiped. He had true information in his addresses, last Friday everyone he knew received either an email or phone call telling us were receiving free copies of the Quran and when would a time for some Muslim church representatives visit to share the works of Allah. Told them remove my information and if anyone from any church appeared at my door they were subject to prosecution for trespassing.
That type of thing along with the “new” cellular towers that have been installed in our area that none of the companies know about & they all have US Government No Trespassing signs on the electric security fence around them. If I have someone I need to discuss something that’s that secret I wouldn’t be retired. Although I encrypt my data, disable GPS & Bluetooth & my wireless network is hardwired to network and my house has brass wire mesh throughout the walls floor & attic basically a huge faraday cage.
Disable any fingerprint unlock. Feds have decided that is not protected by 5th amendment. They cannot force you to give up a password.
I worry less about the government ‘spying’ on me than what I see people putting on social media sites, as if that information isn’t shared.
As for how to get mail? Never have the mail delivered, pizza or anything else delivered where your body resides.
Think like a snoop, every neighborhood has that one person who knows everybody’s business. Act the same way. Do you really need that grocery discount card…do you really need to get your Field & Stream delivered to your door. Come on, just be safe and do what you can.
For everything else – plan for the worse, hope for the best and shoot down the middle.
Do you REALLY need that grocery store discount card? EVERY sale item at the local grocery store chain where I live is dependent upon you having a grocery store discount card> EVERY SALE ITEM. And don’t post back that the checker can just use a “generic card” to get you the discounts. The generic cards have been removed and are no longer available. Either have a discount card or pay full list price and NEVER get any sale prices. You truly do not know how these cards work OR you are independently wealthy and don’t never need discounts at the grocery store (where the prices are the lowest) I know that there are grocery chains that do not have cards but the prices are ON MOST ITEMS are way higher.
My discount cards are registered under the name of Fred Flintstone
I have gone online and researched GadgetTrack, every review was a 1 with bewares and ripoffs attached to them. It is supposedly just a copy of the program that is already on your Iphone. Do your own research before you spend the money.
This was on t-shirts and sweatshirts for sale: People shouldn’t fear the government, the government should fear the people, signed by Ted Nugent. Come on people, wake up. : How did we get the present President? How is it possible a liar and crook can be running for upcoming election-Clinton? We as a nation need to stop accepting all this shady and illegal and illogical actions by govt reps. Nations laugh at us and no longer have any respect for USA. I like the golden haired candidate as we need a no BS man of action. If he wins, countries will be shaking in their boots and we will be respected and feared again worldwide. Some say he is crass and rude, but he won’t take any crap from these sorry ass countries that push our buttons.
I used to think…big deal I don’t have anything to worry about I don’t ever store passwords yada yada..well somehow someone hacked into my computer and pulled enough info out of what they could get and got into my bank accounts had checks printed out in someone’s name in Phoenix Arizona to an address of a house that was unoccupied but on the market to be sold. The bank says it wasn’t them that got hacked into 3 months prior, but I have my suspicions. Once your info is out there, it’s out there so now every 6 months or so I start getting phone calls from Lifelock and banks and Amazon…it’s the ongoing nightmare. Lock down your credit with all three credit agencies. It’s a pain but do it. I had perfect credit before all this started… It has taken me 3 years and my credit score is still not where it was before this all started.
I’m not so worried about the government spying on me, but I recently got a letter in the mail – sent regular mail, not registered or certified- from Verizon saying my phone records had been subpoenaed by an individual. If I had not received the letter, or not opened it, Verizon would have given them my records. Luckily I did open the letter, and my attorney blocked the request before the records were released. I have a problem with the fact that anyone could get my personal phone records basically without my knowledge!
Thanks, but I already did. However, you are right. I checked the ratings on all of the security apps mentioned in the article and none of them were very highly rated, while many that I found on my own were very highly rated, like AVG. What is up with that?
I have a question…I just got a smart TV..
My neighbor came to help me and asked if I knew these had cameras so I could actually be watched .
Is this true?
Yes. Samsung, Sony & others have publicly stated that this is true. Also, if you believe Wikileaks, (which I do now far more than our government) they put out a huge amount of documentation that the CIA and others use just about anything electronic that you have to spy on you and record everything. I know it sounds like it’s out of a movie but it’s true. Take a look at Wikileaks Vault 7 info.
On top of that, there is a transcript from the FISA court that was just declassified which plainly states that we’ve been spied on by the government as well. Feel free to go to Circa.com (A smaller but reliable news outlet). They have a copy of the transcript to read. It’s 99 pages but full of things you should know. It’s yet another absolutely huge story of abuse of power that is not being reported on by most big media.
So, suffice it to say, yes, it’s spying on you and recording everything you do. Feel free to research all of the info I just gave you. You can read it all yourself so you know for sure.
I’m semi-retired DOD and I worked on many classified projects. Cellphones contain spyware, whether we like it or not. The US Supreme court ruled that smart devices are exempt from privacy laws because they are optional for us to use. If we choose to use them, then we are accepting the loss of privacy caused by that usage. All cellphones made and sold today report our usage, location, and even send pictures of us to homeland security. This information is stored for an undetermined time and sifted for content by an AI computer system. Keyword related hits are referred to live personell for more in-depth monitoring. This ruling applies to ALL modern smart devices, not just cellphones. Smart TVs, DVD/BluRay players, Cable Boxes, ect. If you are concerned about privacy, then be careful about what devices you share your life with. Keep in mind that technology requires infrastructure to support it. Without that infrastructure, the spyware in these smart devices is useless.
Unless someone wants to look at all my family photos and read no mind texts or call all my friends then I’m not going to worry. If the govt has to use my cell to find me then come on over – coffee is on! As for hackers – I’ll save them a cup also. Just don’t keep credit card info in your phone.
Well, if we only read 80% and act on 50%, we still better off!!!
I don’t worry about what the government knows about me or my whereabouts. You see I was in the US Army and once you are in the military they have you pegged for life and I use the VA for health care. My smartphone gives them access to whatever information they want to know about me. But I fear not because when it comes down to it I know a thing or two to go vanish off the grid. Some of Franks advice is valid stuff but some of it over the top with paranoia. The one thing you should not due is panic if it comes down to a fight with the government. Remember there are more of us than them and they know we have weapons and will defend what is right and what is ours. Live free or die!
Probably the best thing I’ve read in here yet.
Come on people can’t you think of anything worthwhile like what is happening to our country? Cuba Iran Isis. Our freedom 1st and secondo emendamento, Wales up deforme it Is To late.
Just one more reason to stick with my old flip phone.
People are missing the obvious here… Stop using your phone for internet access and to control your life. Those old wall phones don’t have any of these issues. If you all believe in TSHTF why are you relying on one of the first tools that will stop working?
Tell me how to password protect my phone.
You may have to pull out the user manual that came with your phone – each one is different. Usually you can find in under a “settings” or “options” button.
Just found my phone security settings under Phone Settings/Security. Got ’em set. Hope they work.
personal info on your phone should be just that, government people should not be allowed to have access in any way to your phone,there should be a gps that only allows for emergency like an accident or fire ,this is how hackers can stel onfo because of the government makes a person wonder
The problem i find with dehydrated and/or freeze fried is finding a supply of individual meals. By the time i throw out the waste; the price of MREs doesn’t look so bad.
Where can I go to learn more about Obama selling the Internet?
What do you think of Obmama selling the Internet? What changes are ahead?
1. Dont put any personal stuff on your phone. 2.Use anonymous pre-paid phones. 3. Remove the batteries when you are not using them ( they wont leave that gps tracking record). 4. Have one for in-coming calls only (they can figure out who you are from your friends). Have a separate one for out-going only. Delete all records. Change the out-going phone regularly. If you are really worried, use certain phones for certain parties and other phones for other parties, never cross them over. Never use real names in text and conversations. It wont stop a really determined investigation but it could keep your being identified in broad checks of other people. The computers may store a lot but it has to be reviewed by a warm body. They dont have the manpower to cover everyone so being gray is camoflage. Never have your name and your actual physical address ever appear together in the same place on any document.
Unfortunately, your name and address can be obtained from the Internet or from public records. Good advice though.
“Never have your name and your actual physical address ever appear together in the same place on any document.”
How does that work for your:
Drivers license
Contracts
Legal documents
Club Memberships?
How does a person not have their name and address on any document and the other party is fine with that?
Who would accept a document without a name and address? Who would say, just write your name here. I do not want your address. I will not have to hunt you down to make hou pay for the item you are buying. Better yet, do not give me your real name and do not give me your telephone number. No address, no name, no telephone number is fine. Here, take the item and go, but I will expect full paymrnt in 30 days. Have a nice day.
What a fantasy world that would be. You live in a fantasy world if you think no name and address on documents can be acceptable. Or. Oh, I will give only my name, reluctantly; and, definitely, no address is acceptable anywhere in the world.
Good luck on that.
This comment was so ludicrous that I had to say this.
I agree! How can you do an online order – even to patriots 4Americans – without your name, address, phone #, credit or debut card or bank info???? I don’t understand how any of this works – just chalk it up to have been born blonde!!!
I do believe that people need to be concerned about privacy, however some of these comments are way over the top. Jeesh people, some of you are way to paranoid..
Guess what, unless your doing criminal activities or have child porn on your computer, I wouldn’t worry too much about the government.
Separate phones, removing batteries… really what’s next, where a tin hat so they don’t know what where thinking..
That’s sorta how I feel. If the government can spy on anybody anyway, why the heck would they pick ME to spy on? Ok, ok, because I’m so interesting. that’s why. I know that, but really, anybody can do the things I do. Nothing illegal, nothing freaky. Just having fun. If they’re tracking me, it’s only because they’re jealous.
THE NSA IS THE ONLY PART OF OBAMA’S GOVERNMENT THAT ACTUALLY LISTENS !
IRS goons got away with targeting conservative patriotic war veterans (TEA PARTY MEMBERS) !
The N*S*A is probably no different as Obama’s govt goons are rapidly coercing us all toward “NATIONAL SOCIALISM”!
HOW DO WE BLOCK THESE GOONS FROM MONITORING OUR CELL PHONES 24/7 ???
And the NSA & the politicians claim they’re only collecting “meta-data”, not actual conversations. If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to talk to you about buying.
wow! I love it ! you all need to read psalm 37 I loved the comment old as dirt twice as dusty. remember be a doer of the word not just a hearer.
Have a question I want to know what device (s) can I use
to prevent taping my cellphones, and being Bugged.
please respond.
Thanks for the Info. Very Helpful.
Cordless house phones can be overheard.. Sometimes even on a radio or TV..
They been spying on me since I was a child forty years ago with a SS card and my income so its nothing new
Appreciate all your great info!
GREAT STUFF
THANS
Yell wonder if they’re looking at you through your camera to. I’m sitting in front of my laptop wondering if that little camera inside there watching me. Have not tried your solar panel or your window yet living in the village not sure what the requirements are for zoning. We said lived out in the country where I could be secluded.
Paul, I recently read an article about how the FBI can turn on your webcam without turning on the “in use” light. I guess the real question is, would they have any reason to WANT to watch you?
If someone is narcissistic enough to believe that they must stay connected to their Facebook friends or email buddies 24/7, then they deserve to have their data stolen and abused.
With GPS in your car, for checking directions, and a basic cell phone — who needs an iPhone or some notebook? My laptop stays at home, but if I really got obsessive I could carry it around & check more often …. but I don’t.
Watch on youtube, The program with William Binney aka Stellar Wind, professionally done documentary by NY Times
People, you forget…ANY radio signal can be and is intercepted. Encryption is FALSE security. It can be easily hacked by experts. The people you are trying to prevent doing this stuff. By the time the public knows about any important information; it has already been in use by our Government for 20 years or more. Don’t be brainwashed into thinking otherwise. Take it from someone who knows. The only way to protect your information is to NOT use technology. Even then it is not secure…as in what we would call secure. Just be careful with ANY information you give out!
By the way…YES older cell phones are tracked quite easily. The new ones just give the information instantly instead of 12 to 24 hours. T.V.s included. That is why everything is “going” digital and HD and such. For easy tracking.
Food for thought: Did you know that a radio or T.V. network can now tell when you turn the device on and off? Even your home phone! They even know how long you watch and what ads you watch. :) That’s all the info. I will give for now. Hopefully it is enough to make the nonbelievers see REALITY.
Yes, by the time we know…..it is to late to take any action.
Interesting. And the NSA has said that if you DO encrypt your information, they’ll automatically consider you a terrorism suspect.
Something more…I don’t trust ‘Cloud Storage’ any more than I can throw my house. Store NOTHING in the cloud. Computer programs don’t sleep. They can and will sift through whatever is in Cloud Storage with programs that work 24/7. I keep everything that I want to keep safe OFF my phone and computer. I caught Amazon in that little white lie about their cloud storage. All anyone in any Cloud knows of me is my Kindle collection and my music that I’ve bought either at I-Tunes or Amazon. NOTHING personal is left where anyone can find it.
Exactly Cloud Storage relies on a HUGE amount of trust. Ed Snowden pretty much revealed. You are paying them to spy on you with Cloud storage. They are going to bring in a device and hook it up to the data center. which techie or CIO is going to resist arrest or detention by the NSA when they refuse or don’t cooperate. Answer no one. Why because they all have bills, families to take care or and fear for their jobs. And you will never know it for the same reason “fear for their jobs”.
TRUE — you should avoid most Cloud storage use. If you still like it (or the ease that comes with it), do select an off-shore provider in a secure jurisdiction (Sweden comes to mind with its track record of taking a stance against US authorities during the WikiLeaks affair). Simply search for “BriterCloud” and “Safe-Haven Hosting” or similar (using DuckDuckGo…) and go from there. Also, e-mail is a good thing to move out of harm’s way using overseas mail servers (with hushmail.com having broken their word)…
Something more, you honestly think that the new data center in Utah is there for anything BUT collecting photos, sound bites, etc, from US Citizens? You REALLY think they build super computers just to control atom smashing, or chemical experiments? They build super computers to be able to digest the vast amounts of incoming data. Don’t hear much in the past 10 years or so about internet bank breakins? You won’t because the SuperNet went online well over 15 years ago and all banking and government access was moved to it. All internet activity runs through Langley as of the fall of 1988 when there was a internet outage. Wake up people, if you don’t want someone else knowing about it ENCRYPT IT!
Sure! Just cut and paste the URL onto your page.
Can I post this article on facebook
If think this is scary, check this out at http://www.dickmorris.com
The NSA wants your passwords.
How the NSA has asked Internet service providers for passwords of their users.
I have lived in Mexico (580 miles S of Laredo, TX) for 10 years and have an old Motorola C-155 w/ “prepaid” TelCel service. Never use it for anything other than “social” conversations.
All cell phones can be password protected or locked in the security menu. If you have a vehicle with OnStar your being tracked even if you don’t subscribe to the service. A lab has hacked into a vehicles computer remotely and was able to start and stop the engine, lock and unlock the doors and disable brakes.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/scientists-hack-cars-computers-control-brakes-engine/story?id=11448163#.UebonY1wp8k
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/25/hacking_a_car_is_way_too_easy/
All the items are good for a smartphone. How do you do the same for a non smartphone. Many have GPS and can access the web
I have known that this new government has been spying on us. Not just our cell phones but also your credit card usage. Every time you have to sign your name to any thing, you know many people have your info. So when using your cell phone, limit it less of your personal items. Stay alert !!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA
I do not worry about this. I use an older cell phone. No GPS or any of the other smart phone features.
Quite a good bit of info and all true, I pass these info bits along to people I know that believe our government doesn’t spy on us BS.Such a shame this country went from being a free nation to a nation of government control, such a shame we are all under the boot.
Thank you for the information’There is a scam going on in Oregon at this time. PDP
Patrick, what would that so called scam be ? When you write something like this, you need to follow up with facts for us who takes the time to read you.
It would be highly appreciated and I for one would want to thank you.
Just another old Oregonian here asking. I
Great idea going to do it now, thanks
I have found that NOT being connected to the world 24/7 is wonderful. I don’t do business over the phone or online so it will be a bit harder for hackers…they have to break into my home to get the information.
You can ask that your medical information be locked so that there is a clear trail if anyone who should not have the information will have to pass the “security test” before they can access my records. I was told I’m getting the “George Clooney Treatment” as the security is higher for celebs. Some people who work in hospitals and clinics are not as “honest” as others so don’t depend on their honor to keep out of records.
Thank you for all you do to keep us from prying eyes–whatever form they take. Sj
Use your cell phone as a phone ONLY.
I will go to my cell phone service provider to arrange for the remedies mentioned in the article. As for non cell users, your concerns are with your banks and other institutions like health care providers. They have the computers that hackers might be interested in. Fortunately, these institutions keep up with computer security so they work at making sure our info is safe. After all, it’s their info too. If you want extra phone security, use an old fashioned landline. Any hacker would have to physically hook up to your phonelines to hear what your saying. They can do it but it takes a little more physical work. Hopefully, our esteemed hackers are too lazy to go that way. God bless y’all and stay sane. It’ll make the bad guys wonder what they’re doing wrong.
First they can control your cell phone completely. Your calls can be heard. All my phones are encrypted, we own the service. Much more advanced the cool span with is controlled by the FBI. So we stop all nonsense. Currently not for sale. All GPS I can kill even E911 and all tracking that your cars and trucks have built in. The new highway program that is currently set up and running is tracking you now. It is time you you to stop unwilling being tract.
so where can I get or download your stuff?
You don’t give any information on how to do these three things. That would have been extremely helpful. Thanks!
thanks for the “heads up” appreciate all tghe help you provide
Hi folks, & Frank
I read the thoughts of everyone, and yes there is reason for concern in this age of electronic surveillance one has to wonder, why is our government so worried about what we say? I sure do not use a I phone to bank with. Nor would I be dumb enough to use my computer for any business transactions. I read one comment where some one is afraid of Obama, he is not the real threat. The real ones to fear you will never hear their names. Also if my government wants to hear my opinion, I’m afraid it would burn their ears. Big oil and our corrupt medicine industry has a strangle hold on America and they are keeping us right under their finger to control an already enslaved nation. And may I add they can kiss my posterior. Old Hugh
Thanks for the headsup. Will definitely start to put more safeguards on my android. Bless all of you and your comments.
I have just gotten an iphone and don’t do anything like banking or cc #s on it. I keep my blue tooth off. Am I still at risk for hackers getting private information that could be used against me?
Go into Settings and enable password protect. If someone takes it, at least the data will be wiped when they try to get in. As always, anything connected to the internet puts you at risk for hackers. But putting a password on the phone is a good first step.
Anything stored in a “cloud” is quickly accessible by anyone who misuses the laws to view it.
The phone that you use has lot to do with encryption. To my knowledge RIM is only cell phone that is encrypted on every transaction. Anytime that you have to pay for a monthly charge and you have a paper trail or it can be printed, you have accessible information. The Patriot act which has been widely misused to launch other abuses, among those is the NSA authority to collect information from anyone and anywhere. The best way to protect yourself is not to use a cellphone at all.
iIphone user, a real data hog. otherwise thanks for the tips.
I think depending on cell phones to store important data is plain stupid. You are waving a flag in front of a thief when you do that. They call them smart phones, but I think most people who have them and use them are getting lower on the food chain. To survive you need to scale back not load up on this ridiculous technology.
HOW DO I DO IT
OH, my God! And I mean that in the truest sense of the expression, not just as a throw-away expletive. The U.S.A. is disappearing right before our eyes. After just four years, with the intrusive Obamacare and Obama’s many executive orders and regulations, Americans can hardly turn around without bumping into walls preventing their ability to do almost anything. And this apparent obsession with tracking every American citizen and knowing what they buy, sell, and say; and knowing where they are at all times smacks of the loss of all our freedoms and a government as oppressive and dangerous as the government of the old Soviet Union. I pray every day for the revival of America, but I fear that the next four years will see the end of the U.S. as we have known it, and that such a country with a government and freedoms that Americans enjoyed even as little as thirty or forty years ago will not be seen on this earth again.
How do I accomplish all of these measures? Can I get step-by-step instructions? If so, where?
Thank you for the alert-am interested in pursuing this safeguard. doc Hales 1-9-13
How do we do these things to protect our cell phone privacy? I just see ideas, not resources.
If we only have basic phone service, no email, no texing, etc. can we still block a crisis.
We do no banking on the phone???We are old as dirt and twice as dusty…so are we at risk.
Thank you, daughter, This info goes into my archives. Commander
YES! a march on federal buildings. It has worked for groups of small munbers and we can put a million people on site. One million people stomping & shouting their demands. Stomp the ground long enough and watch buildings start to structurally fail, well to some degree. Squeaky wheel get the lube evry time so what R we waiting for? Gun rigts people could put 20 million on site easy and watch out as the politicians run scared, the bunch of pansies !!! It’s time to work together folks !
why cant we all just march on the federal buildings in the us and shut them down there out of countrol to do this try to contact the minuteman in your area or a christian back 2nd amendment group
Turn off Blue tooth function unless you are using it in that moment. Criminals here in our country of service use Bluetooth sesnor to see if there is a smart phone close by in heavy traffic and then rob you of phone and any thing else they can get and off they go on a motorcycle.
60,000 cell phones stolen in one heavy traffice area of about 10 city blocks Nov., Ded, Jan 2011-12.
Hi! What do I do ? I only have a regular phone, not an I phone. There isn’t a password. Thanks for your help. Sharon