Any advice appreciated. Just point me in the right direction.
Even with the Ethernet unplug and webcam covered, I’d still worry about Obama Drones outside your window.
You wouldn't say anything on a wireless phone that you really wanted to keep confidential, would you?
Think of anything - any form of information - that you put on or allow to pass through the phone as being just as vulnerable. Because it is.
Is the phone linked to a particular carrier (Sprint, at&t, t-mobile, etc.)?
If not, did it come with “prepaid minutes” usually on a card with an envelope around it, all printy and numbery (was the only way to tell overseas)
Finally, is it charged?
Cheers
If your phone is Android I would recommend installing Lookout. It’s a free anti-malware app that will also locate a lost or stolen phone.
Kaspersky makes software that will protect your phone. There is freeware but Kaspersky is by far the best security software out there bar none.
I personally use electrical tape over my camera lenses. Makes it blend easier. Ethernet cord pulled? If your computer is turned off, no harm can be done.
As far as smartphones, if you don’t need it or want it, don’t activate it.
There is anti-viral security software made for Android phones. I haven’t seen any for iPhones yet, so either iPhones are more secure or else Apple doesn’t acknowledge any problem.
Just for the sake of argument, assume that Big Brother is watching and don’t say anything or transmit any data that you would not want to explain later. Don’t visit questionable web sites. If you want to “disappear”, toss the phone and don’t go anywhere that you wore it.
I never use the silly things myself, but aside from what’s mentioned previously, don’t forget to disable as much gps tracking/logging as possible.
To clarify the thing that worries me here...
If you activate a wireless smartphone, and someone knows what device you activated — and whether or not he has altered or programmed it beforehand — can he then gain access to other devices in your house, through the same wireless network?
Someone is going to a lot of expense to get me to connect something, anything, wireless. I’d like to know the pitfalls but can’t get past the technical language on most websites. (For pity’s sake, I was an English major.)
Two things to do if you are really paranoid is turn off the Blue Tooth and Wi-Fi on your phone. Hackers can use these to get in to your phone just by being close to you.
Never use your phone for banking.
Never click on a link to a website sent to you in an email no matter who sent it.