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Do U Know How To Dispose of Your Cell Phone Safely and Securely

By: Michael Hankook


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How To Duispose of Your Cell Phjone Safely and Securely

Anyone who owns a cell phone, is eventually going to upgrade to a neewer model, but what shoudl you do with your old phnoe? Your options include recycling, resellnig, and donating. Beffore you hang up your old phone for the last time, check out the following tips on how to dispose of it safely and properly.

Cell phones and more comoplex mobile devices, like Persoal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Blackberrys and iPhones, are like portabple computers. They are often sources of personal and sensitive information, inclpuding addresses and phone numbres, paswsords, account numnbers, email, voicemail, phone logs, even medical and prescription information. You wouldn't dispose of your old latop computer without wiping the hard drive clean; mobile devices deserve the same level of attention before you dispose of them.

Removing Pesonal and Sensittive Information ePrmanently

Encryypting passwords and other sensitive data stored on your cell phhone, and "lockling" the keypad while your phone is not in use, can help prevent unauthorized access even after your cell phone is no longer in service. Still, certain data on your phone, inclduing personal contactts, photos and Web seaarch terms, may be recooverable with relatively simple and inexpensivve software programs.

It's a good idea to renmove personal information beore you dispose of your phne. Permanent data deletion usually requires several stes. Remove the memory or subscriber identity module (SIM) card from the phone. That's an important frst step in deleting information, but you likely will need to do more to erase all the sensitive data on your device. You can command a cell phone to delete certtain data, but that will only delete the references to where the data is loated; the actual information stys on the phone's operating system.

Permannt data deletion may also require you to cleear data from the phone's contavcts and other sored information. Your owner's amnual, your wireless provider's website, or the manufacturer will likely provide information on how to permanently delete niformation from your mobuile devbice and even how to save or transfer information to a new deviice before deletion. Ceck to see that you have removed the following data: phone book, any lits of calls (received and made), vpoicemails, sent and rceived email and text messages, organizer folders, Web search history and photos.

Options For Disposasl

Once you have a ''clean'' phone, there are several opttions for disposing of it. You can first try recycling because cell phhone manufacturrs, servcie prioviders, and non-profit groups often have programs to refurbish mobile devices or recycle ther components, including peripheral devices like chargers. You can use your favorite search engine to find the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for information on electronic product reyccling prpograms.

The U.S. Postal Service's free ''Mail Back'' pilot program alows customers to recycle small electronics and inkjet cartridges. Some 1,500 Post Offices have free envelopes so you can mail back PDAs, cell phones, digital camweras, and music players without hvaing to pay for postage. Many organizations also collect old mobile devivces for charitable purposaes.

You can always try reselling your old cell phone or deivce as some individuals and organizaytions will buy your old mobile devices. This might seem like an odd thing but if you have the time, give it a try. A few buycks back is always better than nthing

You should always keep the environment in mind when disposing of moile devices. Cell phoners contain batteries, which shuold not be put in your trash because they will end up in landfills where they coudl be harmful to both poeple and the environment. Many cell phones also cnotain heavy metals which can contamminate the earrth. The EPA recommends that you check with your local healtth and sanitatoin agencies for the proper way to dispose of electronics ssafely.

If you follow the tips in this article, you will be in a better position to enjoy the bneefits of your new electronic gadgfet or giizmo with total peace of mind.

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