21 Nov Cellphone safety tips

Our mobile phones are an integral part of our lives and are far more than simply a way to communicate while on the go. However, this means that we could become vulnerable if our devices are lost, stolen or faulty. Experts report that women are more often the victims of cellphone theft (an estimated 80% of reported incidents), and in South Africa, a cellphone is stolen almost every six minutes!

Here are some invaluable tips to ensure that you and your cellphone stay safe…

If your phone is lost or stolen

If you cannot find your phone, it’s vital to act quickly to ensure that if it has fallen into the hands of criminals, it cannot be used to empty your bank accounts, access private and personal information, etc.

First of all, contact your service provider and get them to block your SIM card.

Also ask them to blacklist your device, making it harder for criminals to connect to local cellular networks to access your apps, make financial transactions from the phone, or receive OTPs (one time pins) to make changes.

The contact numbers for this are:

• Vodacom — 082 135
• MTN — 083 135
• Cell C — 084 135
• Telkom — 081 180

The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) offers this advice if your phone is stolen: “In the event that your mobile phone is lost or stolen, borrow a phone and contact your bank immediately so that they can deactivate your banking app, block cards on other apps containing your bank card details, and block your bank account. Make sure you always have your bank’s hotline number stored somewhere other than on your mobile phone. If you have activated the ‘Find My iPhone’ or ‘Find my Device’ facility from the web to locate or wipe your device, be aware that fraudsters may attempt to Vish, SMish or Phish you. If you receive an email or SMS after doing this, don’t click on any links as these are not safe… [Your] highest priority should be protecting [your] money.”

The power of passwords

Ensure that you do not store any passwords on your phone, and have a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to make it harder for anyone to guess what your password could be. Never create a password using details that could be deduced from anything stored on your cellphone.

When in public

Most incidents of cellphone theft occur when victims are distracted. Don’t leave your phone where it can clearly be seen and accessed: never leave it on the table next to you in a restaurant, or have it showing in your bag or pocket, or placed next to you when driving (especially when your window is open). Don’t leave it on your bedside table if sleeping next to an open window.

Be aware of people standing very close to you: criminals often try to access your personal access code by ‘shoulder surfing’ before snatching your phone.

Don’t walk and talk without being aware of what is happening around you – it is very easy for criminals to run past you and grab your phone. The same is true when taking photographs and ‘selfies’ with your phone.

Daily care

Taking care of your phone will extend its lifespan and ensure that it does not cause a fire or similar hazardous accident.

• Most mobile phone problems originate with the phone charger or the lithium-ion battery. If the battery is damaged in some way, such as being exposed to excessive heat or the casing of the battery is compromised, the inner components of the battery could break down and create a volatile reaction that may lead to an explosion or fire.
• Keep it cool: keep your phone away from heat and direct sunlight. If a phone is charged for longer than necessary (such as overnight), or used for calls while charging, or if the phone is charged in very hot temperatures such as inside a car on a hot day, it could over-heat. Never cover the phone while charging or it may overheat.
• Never leave your phone charging for long periods without checking on it, and always charge your phone away from potentially flammable materials such as curtains and bedding.
• Beware of bulging on your phone: the lithium-ion batteries degrade with age and frequent recharging, causing them to swell, resulting in bulging screens or back panels. The more you charge your phone, the faster this deterioration will occur.
• Don’t drop it: the impact may affect the battery components, resulting in damaged terminals or protective casing. If your phone acts strangely after being dropped, take it immediately to a service provider to get it checked.
• Don’t let your phone fall to below 30% charge too often as it puts strain on the battery, and instead of always charging it to 100%, aim for 80%, which is better for lithium-ion batteries.
• Faulty or incorrect chargers are also a major cause of exploding mobile phones. Only ever use the charger that came with the phone as it will have the appropriate current or voltage for the model phone. Using the incorrect one will speed up battery deterioration, and could cause your phone (and vehicle or home) to go up in flames!

Warning signs

Bulging screens and back panels.

A phone quickly losing power despite not being used excessively.

A phone that gets very hot very quickly.