ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STALKING:

Good News and Bad News

Electronic devices – computers, copiers, tape recorders, PDA’s, cell and cordless phones, caller ID, GPS trackers and so on – have made our lives more convenient and more complicated. They allow us to keep in touch wherever we go and allow others to expect to find us at any time. However, did you know:
 

• It is impossible to completely erase all identifying data from a hard drive – even with a baseball bat.
• With the arrival of tiny USB drives that plug into a computer, it is easy for a stalker who has access to add one to the wiring of a victim’s computer and download information from that computer and find out what other computers the victim communicates with.
• Most newer cell phones can be used to remotely monitor the room they’re in, and you may not even know the phone is on.
• GPS tracking equipment is now standard on most new cell phones.
• Security technicians work constantly to develop safeguards for private conversations, but hackers are just as smart and are working just as hard to overcome the latest security measures.
• The cordless phone in your home is a radio receiver; whenever the handset is off the base unit, it can pick up other phone calls, radio stations, even the baby monitor – and it can be transmitting your conversations to other receivers.
• Ordering something on the internet or through an 800 phone number puts your personal information into worldwide electronic domain.
• If someone wants to track you in your car, several devices are easily available over the counter, and if you have a GPS tracking system in your car it’s already available to them.
• Stalkers use scanners to intercept cell and cordless phone conversations of their victims; the latest cell phones are better at blocking these interceptions, but are not foolproof.
• KNOW THE CODE: Line Blocking (ordered from your phone company) and PerCallBlocking (*67 or 1167 for rotary phones) are the two FREE options that prevent your number and name from being revealed on Caller ID. You cannot block calls to toll-free 800, 888, 877 numbers or to 900 numbers or emergency 911.
• To find out how accessible you are, search your name on the internet; you’ll be surprised!