This Is Why I Seldom Use My Cell Phone

[billt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyKcoDaofg

I only use it if I absolutely must. I knew this kind of stuff was happening, but I didn't think it was this bad.  Bill T.

[PegLeg45]

$850 a pop for the software......that's a good bit of ammo......     

 http://www.thespyphone.com/

[Bidah]

I knew it could be done, but WOW, I did not realize the extent of it.  With the cell phone hacking stuff and the proliferation of viruses for the smart phones I guess they would not even need to get a hold of the phone either.

-Bidah

[billt]

The only thing the video lacked was a better explanation of how, or rather if, all of this could be defeated by simply keeping your phone OFF when you're not using it, or must you take the battery out as well? I can't help but think taking out the battery time and time again will cause issues down the road like loose connections, battery cover becoming loose, etc.  Bill T.

[crusader rabbit]

If you check Snopes.com you will find that this video was faked.  Some smooth editing and dropped kernals of popped corn make it look like the cell phones are the cause.  Actually, if you applied some basic physics to the equation, you could have figured this out.  The equation applies the number of milliwatts and the mass of the corn kernals and the necessary increase in temperature to attain pop, and the numbers just don't work.  But, it did serve to spark some controversy.

Much actual science and serious research has been done, and cell phones pose little or no danger.

[Sponsor]

[billt]

Are you saying the software Peg Leg provided the link to doesn't work?? Also, what about the women who had this happen to them in the video? Are they lieing as well? Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

If you check Snopes.com you will find that this video was faked.  Some smooth editing and dropped kernals of popped corn make it look like the cell phones are the cause.  Actually, if you applied some basic physics to the equation, you could have figured this out.  The equation applies the number of milliwatts and the mass of the corn kernals and the necessary increase in temperature to attain pop, and the numbers just don't work.  But, it did serve to spark some controversy.

Much actual science and serious research has been done, and cell phones pose little or no danger.

I think you're on different topic here Rabbit. This isn't the popcorn issue.
FQ13

[Jackel]

I think you're on different topic here Rabbit. This isn't the popcorn issue.
FQ13

thats a lol moment i think

i generally keep my phone off most of the time anyway. scary though.

[billt]

I think as technology increases, one can only assume privacy will diminish accordingly.  Bill T.

[r_w]

I work in telecom and helped build some of the security standards in place.  I know the bug that caused the problem for the girl at the start of that story (one of those things so stupidly simple it had been overlooked). 

Each manufacturer does things a little different and there have been a few systemic problems over the years.  But just like computer viruses, most problems are downloaded by the user.  Smartphones have a LOT of power to play with, and no carrier or appstore can protect you from something you download direct from the internet. 

For the almost paranoid:

You can disable the GPS function in any phone for anything but a 911 call.  It will be buried in the setup menu somewhere.  That is pretty low-level in the code and can't be bypassed easily.  But your google maps won't work, either.

Power down.  Phones do have to power completely off for FAA/FCC compliance.  Pulling the battery is not necessary, but many people confuse the screen lock/sleep mode with the powerdown so they get confused.  Besides pulling the battery on an iPhone is a little too permanent.