Un-techie, seeking advice on smartphone security

Situation in a nutshell, I got a smartphone as a gift a few months ago, and after many weeks, still hadn't activated it, but the gift giver wouldn't take it back and even followed up with a hefty wad of funds to activate and operate the device.

I do not know enough about wireless networks, security issues, firewalls, etc., to fill a thimble. I don't even know enough to know how much smarter the gift giver is (all I know is, he wears gadgets on his head).

Don't want to describe it in detail in this forum which he may know I frequent, so I am not asking for in depth advice here.

I am asking, instead, if anyone can recommend a site where I might go to ask specific questions about the device and the likelihood of vulnerability.

Virgin Mobile , www.virginmobileusa.com ,

has plans where you pay by the month, or 3 months auto from credit card if you want, very cheap which buys you some basic minutes.

If you go over, you pay for that. If you dont use it up, it accumulates - for years. I have over a hundred $ !

Kaspersky makes software that will protect your phone.

Yevgeniy Valentinovich was trained in security by one of the most famous security organizations in the world. Famous quote[2009], in response to "What's wrong with the design of the Internet?":

There's anonymity. Everyone should and must have an identification, or Internet passport. The Internet was designed not for public use, but for American scientists and the U.S. military. That was just a limited group of people--hundreds, or maybe thousands. Then it was introduced to the public and it was wrong…to introduce it in the same way.
I'd like to change the design of the Internet by introducing regulation--Internet passports, Internet police and international agreement--about following Internet standards. And if some countries don't agree with or don't pay attention to the agreement, just cut them off.

Last July, his ex-wife (and co-owner of Kaspersky Labs), Natalya Kaspersky came out in favor of a Russian national firewall (like the Great Firewall of China), saying that fears of government censorship were overblown and complaining that “Right now we have a tremendous freedom of speech in mass media, with no prohibited topics at all.”

The phone is not even out of the original packaging yet. My concern is that if I were to activate it, sign up to Sprint or att, would the person who gave it to me be able to access it, and via this wireless network, other devices in my home?
For all I know, that could be a dumb question. I know nearly nothing at all about this stuff. I don’t use wireless and can’t understand why someone I don’t even know very well would be so keen on the idea of getting me to use it.

Your concern is valid. Is this friend/acquaintance someone you trust? Is he looking out for your well being/safety? Your call, but before using the phone, get much more info....bout the gifter and the gift.

Prudence is not paranoia...

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