Mobile Phone Safety

Mobile phones are so highly integrated into our lifestyles that most people can’t leave home for even 5 minutes without it.

They've now combined so many things in one device it's no longer only a mobile phone it's a diary, address book, notepad, document store, photo gallery, camera, music & video player, radio, tv, maps, translation device, games machine, mobile office .............endless possibilities.

Now we can even connect up with watches, cars, home lighting & heating, cctv cameras and baby monitors ....even the coffee machine. All this without even needing to be in the same country. We're truly mobile surfers now.

GOOD NEWS

From June 15th the roaming charges for internet usage dropped within Europe but it's not necessarily good for everyone.

Check with your service provider since there may be small print regarding your package and data download amount etc.

I checked my Three Pay as you Go (without any packages) for the cost to use in Spain. I wasn't that impressed to see that it's only dropped 9 cent to 92c per mb which is roughly the size of this web page. This is also only a temporary reduction and it's limited to 'fair use' which means if you're a frequent traveler it'll only cover you for a few weeks.

Check your package BEFORE you travel.

EMERGENCIES

Dial 112 from a mobile in Europe for Local Emergency Services for FREE using the BEST available phone signal.
Place an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact in your address book WITH the international dialing code.
Adjust your screen saver to display the ICE contact number.

Be Careful

Don't post social media that reveals you've left your house vacant.

The phone sizes have increased beyond trouser pocket space but are as valuable as cash.

Selfie safely, we've all heard of fatal photographs.

Don't leave them behind!

Put them away and out of sight when not being used.

Wash your hands and your phone!

Look where you're going, lamp posts hurt, and don't hold it out for theft

Don't get them wet

Don't use your phone whilst driving - it's simply not safe.

Passwords

All the following security advice is good common sense to apply and to every device for every member of your family:

Activate a security password on EVERYTHING and not just the screen saver. Those Apps may reveal more than you think. Log out of high risk apps and web pages after using them.
Install and learn how to use Apps like Find My iPhone and Lost. If the worst happens you can remotely delete all your data.
For high risk or high value items attached a tracker device.

Also note what your phone has access to NOW so that in the event of theft or loss you know what passwords you might need to change:

Email
Windows, Google or Apple account
Phone Credit
Online Banking
Online Shopping
Social Media
Cloud Storage
PayPal
Web pages with passwords

Protect everything personal to you to prevent an intruder accessing and even contact your bank to advise them if you lose your phone!

Backups

In the event of loss or damage you can at least save some items through automated backups:

Phone Contacts
Photos

Accessories

It is worth investing and taking these with you:

Portable booster battery.
Phone charger with Europe converter plug and the cable
Car charger with multiple ports

Internet

Unless you want to have a bill for not having knowingly used the internet you need to switch off the mobile data or the background apps might rack up a bill for you. If you have automated some backup processes like photos then check to see you've unpicked 'mobile data'.

One economical option is to purchase a local mobile phone chip and either swap it for your own or use it within a spare phone. If you have the 'Hot Spot' feature on your phone then several others can connect to it and save running up individual bills.

'Three' just, like others, sell a 'Hot Spot' device for use within Europe for a rolling €20 per month fee and will give you more than enough data. Once the month is up simply cancel it.

There's also packages aimed at temporary tourists which provide 'Like at Home' charges with limited data, call and text.

Insurance

If you do have insurance you need to check whether it covers you abroad and to what extent. If you've set the passwords and automated the back up all you'll lose is the value of the device which in some cases could still mean you'll keep paying for it for up to 36 more months.

Choose wisely.