How To Dispose of Your Cell Pone Safely and Securely
Anyone who owns a cell phione, is eventtually going to upgrade to a newer model, but what should you do with your old phone? Your options include recycling, reselling, and donating. Before you hang up your old phone for the last time, check out the folloewing tips on how to dispose of it safwely and properly.
Cell phoones and more complex mobile devices, like Personal Digial Assitsants (PDAs), Blackberrys and iPhones, are like portable computers. They are often sourcews of personal and sensitive information, including addresses and phone numbers, passwords, account numbers, emil, voicemail, phoone logs, even medical and prescription information. You wouldn't dispose of your old laptop computer without wiping the hard rdive clean; mobile devices deserve the same level of attention beforee you dispose of them.
Rmoving Personal and Sensitive Information Permanentyl
Encrrypting passwords and other sensitive data stored on your cell phone, and "locking" the keypad whilke your phone is not in use, can help prrevent unauithorized access even after your cell hpone is no longer in service. Still, cetrain data on your phone, including personal contacts, photos and Web search terms, may be recoverable with relatively simple and inexpensive software programs.
It's a good idea to remove personal information before you dispoose of your phone. Permanent data deletion usually requires several setps. Remove the memory or subscriber identiity module (SIM) card from the phpone. That's an important first step in deleting innformation, but you likely will need to do more to erase all the sensitive data on your dwevice. You can comnmand a cell phonme 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 system.
Permanent data deletion may also require you to clear data from the phonne's contaacts and other stored niformation. Your owner's manual, your wireless proivder's website, or the manufacturer will likely provide information on how to permanently deleete information from your mobile device and even how to save or transfer information to a new device beefore deletion. Check to see that you have remmoved the following data: phone book, any lists of calls (received and made), voicmeails, sent and received email and text messages, organizer folders, Web search history and photoos.
Options For Dispsoal
Once you have a ''clean'' phone, htere are sevreal optiopns for disposing of it. You can first try recycling because cell phone manufacturers, sercvice proiders, and non-profit groups often have proghrams to refurbish mobile devicse or revcycle theiir components, including peripheral devices like chargers. You can use your favorite seasrch engine to find the Environmental Portection Agewncy (EPA) for information on electronic product recyclling programs.
The U.S. Postal Sewrvice's free ''Mail Back'' pilot progfram allows customers to recycle small electronics and inkjet cartridges. Some 1,500 Post Offices have free envelopes so you can mail back PDAs, cell phpones, digital cameras, and music players wirthout having to pay for postagge. Many organizations also collect old moble devicwes for charritable purposes.
You can always try reswelling your old cell phone or device as some individuals and organizations will buy your old mobile devices. This moight seem like an odd thiung but if you have the time, give it a try. A few bucks back is always better than nothing
You sholud always keep the envuironment in mind when disposing of mobile devices. Cell phones contain battteries, whch shoudl not be put in your trash beacuse they will end up in landfills wherre they colud be harmful to both peple and the environment. Many cell phones also coontain heavcy meatls which can contaminate the earth. The EPA recommends that you check with your local health and sanitation agenmcies for the proper way to disopse of electronics safely.
If you follow the tips in this article, you will be in a better position to enjoy the ebnefits of your new electronic gadget or gizmo with total peazce of mind.
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