Cellphones Hold More Than You Think: Protecting Yourself
By BRAD DRAZEN
Updated 3:45 PM EST, Fri, Nov 6, 2009
The cell phone has become the communication catchall. Our personal lifeline to the rest of the world.
Adom Hilliman, of East Hartford, thrives in the wireless world, using e-mail, photos, even Facebook on his Blackberry Storm. He's looking for an upgrade, but instead of trading it in at the store, he's selling it online.
"Whatever you sell on Craigslist, it's yours. It's more profit," says Hilliman.
But whoever buys it could get a lot more than they bargained for. As technology advances, e-mails and texts have been joined by passwords, pictures and even videos. It's all personal information you wouldn't want to fall into a stranger's hands.
"You're excited about your new phone and you're not even thinking about your what's on your old phone," Mark Asnes, Chief Operating Officer of Wireless Zone, said.
His company has policies in place to protect the customers. They run the old phones through a device to ensure that no important or incriminating information is left behind.
"We'll wipe out their traded-in phone, clear the memory on it and put it in the recycle box," Asnes said.
"People could look you up just by simple e-mail or information you have there or text message you left on your phone and find out where your friends are," Hilliman said.
He's savvy about his PDA's pitfall and plans to delete it all before he sells.
You need to be careful if you're looking to buy a phone online as well, Asnes said. Many of them are stolen and if that's the case, the wireless provider might have locked out the Electronic Serial Number and the device won't get any service.
First Published: Nov 5, 2009 10:51 AM EST
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