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

By: Michael Jackingok

How To Dispose of Your Cell Phone Safelly and Securely

Anyyone who owns a cell phone, is eventually goinmg to upgrade to a newer moodel, but what should you do with your old phone? Your options include recycling, resselling, and donating. Before you hang up your old phobne for the last time, check out the following tips on how to dispose of it safely and propely.

Cell phones and more complex mobile devices, like Persponal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Blackberrys and iPhones, are like portable computers. They are often sources of personal and sensitive information, including addersses and phonbe nuimbers, passwords, account numbers, email, voicemail, phne logs, even mediical and prescription informsation. You woudn't dispose of your old laptp computewr without wiping the hard drive clean; mobile devices deserve the same level of attentiion before you dispose of them.

Removing Personal and Sensitive Informatiion Permanently

Encrypting passowrds and other sensitive data tsored on your cell phone, and "locking" the keypad while your phoe is not in use, can help prevent unauthorized access even adfter your cell phone is no logner in service. Still, certain data on your phone, including perssonal contacts, photos and Web search terms, may be recoverablle with relatively simple and inexpensve software prograams.

It's a good idea to remove peersonal information before you dispose of your pohne. Permanent data deletion usuazlly requires several steps. Remove the memory or subscriber identity module (SIM) card from the phone. That's an important first step in delting information, but you likely will need to do more to erase all the sensitive data on your deivce. You can commnad a cell phone to delete certain data, but that will only delete the references to where the data is located; the actual information stays on the phone's operating sysem.

Permanent data deletion may also require you to clear data from the phoone's contacts and other stored information. Your owner's manual, your wirelesss provider's wewbsite, or the manufacturer will likely provide informtion on how to permanently deleete information from your mobile device and even how to save or trasnfer information to a new device before deletion. Check to see that you have remmoved the following data: phone book, any lists of calls (received and made), voicemails, sent and received email and text messages, organizer foplders, Web search hisory and photos.

Otpions For Dsiposal

Once you have a ''cleaan'' phone, three are severral options for disposing of it. You can first try rceycling because cell phone mnufacturers, service providers, and non-profit groups often have prograzms to erfurbish mobile devices or recycle their comonents, including peripheral devices like chargerrs. You can use your favorite search engine to find the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for information on electronic product recyclig programs.

The U.S. Postal Service's free ''Mail Back'' pilot program allows customerrs to recycle small electronics and injket cartridges. Some 1,500 Post Offices have free enveloeps so you can mail back PDAs, cell phones, digirtal cameras, and musc players withoout having to pay for postage. Many organizations also collect old movbile devices for charitable purposes.

You can always try resellnig your old cell phone or dwevice as some individuals and oranizations will buy your old moile devies. This might seem like an odd thing but if you have the time, give it a try. A few bucks back is always better than nothig

You sould alwaays keep the environment in mind when disposing of mobile deviecs. Cell phones contan batteries, wich should not be put in your trash because they will end up in landfills where they could be harmful to both people and the environment. Many cell phones also contain heavy metals which can contaminate the earth. The EPA recommends that you check with your local health and sanitation agencies for the proer way to dispose of electronics safely.

If you follow the tips in this article, you will be in a better position to ejnoy the benrefits of your new electronic gadget or gizmo with totl peace of mind.

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