Gerry's Tech Tip of the Month
GERRY HEBERT
How Often Should You Turn Your Phone Off and On?
Almost everyone has a cell phone, and everyone wants to know how best to take care of it. One of the main nagging questions many people face is also deceptively simple: How often should you turn your phone completely off?
According to the National Security Agency you should turn your phone off and back on again at least once a week. There are several reasons why:
According to the National Security Agency you should turn your phone off and back on again at least once a week. There are several reasons why:
- To prevent Spearphishing – which allows Malware to be installed
- To prevent Zero-click exploits which attackers often use to eavesdrop on and collect data from phone
- To improve the performance of your phone. Many people have a dozen or more apps open on their phone, and that causes all sorts of odd behavior. Turning it off and back on weekly will also improve battery life since having many open apps drains the battery faster.
ALERT: "Missed Jury Duty" Scam
Another scam has begun to make the rounds, targeting citizens of Montgomery County, among others, according to the Lower Merion police: The scammer calls and says that they have an arrest warrant for missed jury duty, and a large fine must be paid to avoid arrest. Sometimes the scammer even spoofs the originating phone number so that it appears to be from Lower Merion Police’s non-emergency number: 610-649-1000.
Lower Merion Police have several reminders for residents:
Lower Merion Police have several reminders for residents:
- Police do not serve warrants over the phone.
- Police do not demand immediate payment for outstanding warrants, tickets, subpoenas, or traffic violations over the phone.
- Police do not collect monies on behalf of the courts over the phone. They also will not demand social security information, bank account numbers, bank card, electronic payment, or social media information over the phone.
- Police will not ask for any personal details over the phone without explaining the reason and offering the chance to call the police back and confirm their identity.