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Mobile phones: a health risk?

2011-05-16T01:33:00.000-07:00

Are mobile phones bad for your health? A Swedish study has shown an increased risk of an uncommon form of brain tumour in people who used mobiles for longer than ten years.

Are mobile phones harmful to your health? There's been an ongoing debate over this question since the first analogue mobiles appeared in the 1980s.
It's an important question given that worldwide, about 1.5 billion people use one. This year 650 million are expected to be sold. If they are harmful, the health of very large populations could be at risk.
We do know that mobile phones emit radiofrequency radiation from the handset and that these low-energy electromagnetic waves travel into the head. But do they cause injury to living tissue, possibly triggering a brain tumour or other disease?..
Unfortunately, no-one knows for sure - hence the fierce debate. There hasn't been much research into the effects of the radiation, especially over the long term. Mobile phones haven't been around long enough. Also, the technology keeps changing. Third generation (3G) phones - which emit higher rates of radiation than earlier models - are just coming onto the market in big numbers. The technology is evolving faster than scientists can do trials to monitor safety. And many brain conditions, such as brain tumours, take years to develop.Still, there is enough evidence to make some scientists concerned. Studies have shown mobile phone radiation does produce biological changes in humans - such as changes in brain temperature and activity as well as blood pressure changes. Others have shown they cause an increased incidence of illness in laboratory animals - for example cancer in mice.
Last December, a consortium of 12 research groups in seven European countries announced it had found evidence mobile phone radiation can damage DNA in human cells in the laboratory - changes that weren't repaired by the cells and remained when they divided.
Many scientists dismiss these findings as inconsistent and unreliable. Millions of people who use mobile phones don't seem to be harmed by them, they point out. The energy emitted by a mobile phone is so low as to be almost biologically insignificant - and it is fear of new technology rather than radiation that is the real problem.
Mobile phone companies are anxious to push this line too. They point out that there hasn't to date been any evidence that mobile phones cause disease in humans. It's a view supported by an influential report from a UK panel, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones. It concluded in 2002 that while mobile phones do cause biological effects there's no evidence that they cause illness.
But a study published in October last year challenged this notion. The Swedish study, published in the journal Epidemiology, showed a four-fold increase of a benign (non-cancerous) brain tumour in people who had been using a mobile phone for more than ten years. The increase in the tumour - called an acoustic neuroma - occurred in the side of the head where the person used the phone. But there was no increased risk of any other type of brain tumour.

Weighing up the benefits

Should you throw your mobile phone out? Not necessarily. These findings would have to be repeated by other studies to be of much significance. Even if they were, acoustic neuroma is a benign condition and can be treated.
Then there's the health benefits of using mobile phones to be taken into account. A significant percentage of mobile phone owners have used them to call an ambulance or get help in an emergency situation. It's drastically cut the time between reporting a medical emergency and help arriving, say the experts.
So these studies probably aren't a reason to discard your phone just yet. But they do support taking some basic precautions - especially if you use your mobile a lot. In a nutshell, where possible:

use a land line;
use text messaging rather than voice;
and for voice calls on a mobile, use a headset.

If you have children, think twice about giving them a mobile phone. There's no direct evidence the phones harm kids any more than adults, but some experts argue children's developing brains are more susceptible to damage.

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Drawbacks of Social Networking

2011-04-13T02:12:00.001-07:00

Identity theft and fraud are two bothersome concerns that have come out of social networking sites. There are also people who pretend to be somebody else and convince you that they are in for a business deal. But, the truth is they are there to rob you out of your money. Another danger is that scammers use social networking sites to trick people into downloading malicious software (malware). A common tactic is to use social engineering. Social engineering plays on human nature to get results...

Cases of online harassment and stalking have also been a concern. People who have issues with you or for whatever reason just can search on your name and stalk or harass you. In order to address this, users are allowed to report or block users that go out of bounds.
The good news is that the pros for social networking outweigh the cons. And with a few healthy habits, you can avoid or minimize the drawbacks. Just remember to be careful and responsible before you sign up! So take your time and be careful in choosing who to trust so you can hopefully avoid this sort of unpleasant thing happening to you. Apart from that, social networking is great thing.

Benefits of Social Networking

2011-04-13T02:11:00.000-07:00

Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users....
Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. Some use these networking sites to promote their blogs, to post bulletins and updates or to use them as a bridge to a future love interest. These are just a few of the reasons why social networking is getting a lot of attention lately -it makes life more exciting for many people.

It has become increasingly popular nowadays as there are a lot of sites that offer this service. As much as there are two sides to the coin, there are also pros and cons of social networking sites. They are often overlooked, which should not be the case as they can tell what you should and should not do as a member of a social networking community.

Online business people use these social services as tools to promote their websites, products and services basically because of the overwhelmingly significant number of people that they have brought together to form communities. Several social networking sites also act as application platforms. You can find dozens of applications ranging from quizzes to games to restaurant review programs.
More than anything else, social sites provide better ways to keep in touch with your classmates, friends and family. Even though we are far from them, you and these people both have easy access to how each other is doing, as you can send messages as well as upload photos and videos. One example is that instead of meeting in a certain place, you and your classmates could discuss a school activity by having a conference in a certain site that you are all members of, thus saving you time and effort.

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Mobile Banking...

2011-04-11T05:41:00.000-07:00

Mobile banking is a way for the customer to perform banking actions on his or her cell phone or other mobile device. It is a quite popular method of banking that fits in well with a busy, technologically oriented lifestyle. It might also be referred to as M-banking or SMS banking..

The amount of banking you are able to do on your cell phone varies depending on the banking institution you use. Some banks offer only the option of text alerts, which are messages sent to your cell phone that alert you to activity on your account such as deposits, withdrawals, and ATM or credit card use. This is the most basic type of mobile banking.

A more involved type of mobile banking allows the user to log into his or her account from a cell phone, and then use the phone to make payments, check balances, transfer money between accounts, notify the bank of a lost or stolen credit card, stop payment on a check, receive a new PIN, or view a monthly statement, among other transactions
.......This type of banking is meant to be more convenient for the consumer than having to physically go into a bank, log on from their home computer, or make a phone call. While all of this is true, some are concerned about the security of mobile banking.

Most experts advise against performing any large transactions over mobile banking, which is good advice. However, it is equally important to use an alphanumeric password and to keep your PIN safe. Change your password often, and do not use your pets' names, your child's name, or any birthdays. This advice applies to all passwords, not just those used for mobile banking. Though you are logging on to a secure server at the bank through your cell phone, you need to do your part to protect your information. For this reason, many banks are now sending one-time use passwords for an extra step in security.

The Mobile Revolution

2011-04-11T04:39:00.000-07:00

We can use cell phones for social change:

Mobile phones are revolutionizing international development and social change. ...
Already, governments, non-profits, businesses, and everyday citizens are leveraging vast mobile phone networks in many countries to promote social development in innovative ways. Perhaps most important, these mobile networks have the potential to reach marginalized populations, especially in rural areas, and to provide them with transformative new opportunities.

This revolution is about more than philanthropy; it extends beyond simply making donations via cell phones. In fact, cell phones aren’t always the most effective way for donors to make a difference. For instance, text donations being made to help victims of the environmental disasters in Japan may not be processed for on to three months, as phone carriers will only give the money once donors pay their monthly phone bills. While mobile phones are in some cases an effective philanthropic tool, their revolutionary potential lies in their facilitation of grassroots movements for social change.

Mobile phones can facilitate better governance. They can help government entities to communicate with citizens and improve the delivery of social services.

Mobile phones can help entrepreneurs reach new markets

Mobile phones can sow the seeds of cultural change

Mobile phones can combat widespread social problems

Mobile phones can fuel social movements. In countries where authoritarian regimes control many forms of social media, cell phones can enable dissidents to communicate their messages and rally support for uprisings. In Indonesia in 1998, students used cell phones to coordinate protests that precipitated the downfall of the incumbent President Suharto. This was seen again in the recent social revolutions and uprisings in Africa and the Middle East. In Angola, for instance, protesters used SMS to organize demonstrations against the ruling regime

Why have mobile phones suddenly become so powerful? Quite simply, the power of cell phones lies in their vast network. Mobile phones are nearly ubiquitous, especially in developing nations, where cell phone service can be quite inexpensive. Since 1998, the number of cell phones in Africa has increased from under four million to over 400 million, now serving almost half the continent’s population

mobile users more vulnerable to e-mail phishing scams

2011-04-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

Recent research indicates that mobile users may be three times more likely to fall victim to e-mail phishing attempts.more Americans are shifting their e-mail use to their mobile devices. Also, recent statistics indicate that mobile users spend more time on their phones doing e-mail than using Facebook.

Here is why this is so...

1. Mobile users typically arrive first after the phishing e-mails are sent out. "This makes sense since mobile users are 'always on' and are most likely to read e-mail messages as soon as they arrive. Meanwhile, desktop users only read messages when they have access to their computer."Also, most fraudulent e-mails call for immediate action. For example, they usually claim that suspicious activity has been detected in the user's account and that immediate action is required. Most victims who fall for this ploy will visit the phishing site quickly."This is crucial, since internet providers and web hosts watch for phishing-style activity on their networks and often act quickly to block phishing sites.One of the most insidious parts of e-mail phishing is that the fake alert e-mail might actually say the company is notifying you in response to a recent publicized security breach -- that is, the one they perpetrated. "It's a perfect cover,".

2. Mobile users are three times more likely than desktop users to enter login information. The good news is that most people (mobile or not) don't enter any login information when they land on a phishing site. But among those who do, mobile users clearly were more likely to take this step into the phishing trap.

3. iPhone users are eight times more likely than BlackBerry users to access phishing sites. there are still more BlackBerry phones than iPhones in use in the market. it's "equally difficult to spot phishing websites on BlackBerry and iPhone devices."So why the disparity? I speculate that many BlackBerry users are business users who were issued their BlackBerry by their employer, ostensibly with at least some security training. In contrast, the iPhone is overwhelmingly a consumer device.

How to protect yourself....

2011-04-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

Be skeptical of any e-mails that claim to come from companies that you do business with. Although phishing attempts are most likely immediately after a data breach, they can occur weeks or months later. So remain vigilant. Logos, e-mail addresses, and other visual clues to authenticity can be faked.

Never click a link in an e-mail message that you don't trust 100%. Many web browsers (including mobile browsers) can be "infected" by malicious code just by accessing a website. But if you do click a link in an e-mail, make sure you never enter personal information on the resulting website.

If you receive what may be a phishing attempt and have questions about whether your account may have been compromised, do this: Open a fresh Web browser window (on your computer or phone), access the real website of the company in question and log in to your account that way. Then check whether they've issued any security alerts.
Or just look up the company's phone number and call them, an action that's especially easy from your mobile phone. Just make sure you don't just call whatever phone number is listed in the e-mail message.
The opinions expressed in this post are solely those of ken

Number portability ......

2011-04-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

The implementation of number portability is expected to deepen the level of competition in the mobile telecommunications market and enhance consumer choice...
One of major factors that have been discouraging consumers and business firms from changing mobile service providers is the inconveniences of losing contacts with friends, family and business associates. For businesses, change of telephone numbers could have cost implications in regard to advertising.

All subscribers wishing to port their numbers will be expected to fill in the Mobile Number Portability Form at the retail shop of the mobile operator they intend to switch to and present original identification documents (e.g. I.D. card, Passport or Armed forces I.D. card) for verification. For company lines, an official letter from the organization, duly signed by the relevant authority, will be required.

Subscribers will also pay a porting fee of Kshs. 200 and will be issued with a new SIM card and will continue to use the services of their current operator until the automated porting process is complete.

Before the automatic switching process starts, subscribers are expected to save their SIM contacts on their phone or any other form, clear any balance airtime or money in mobile transfer account as well as pay up any borrowed airtime or outstanding bill.
To start the automated porting process subscribers will need to send the word PORT or HAMA to 1501 using their existing SIM card. The subscriber will then receive an SMS from PORTING bearing either of the following information: Thank you for your SMS. Your porting request is being processed); OR your porting request has failed. Please contact your new Operator
When the automated switching process is complete, one will receive, within a few minutes (but not longer than 48 hours), an SMS from PORTING bearing either of the following information: This Account will be closed soon. Please use your SIM card from your new Operator. OR Porting Error. Please contact your new Operator
The subscriber will then replace their current SIM card with the new SIM Card from the new operator and begin enjoying the services of the new mobile service provider.

Mobile Technology

2011-04-07T05:44:00.001-07:00

There is no denying that mobile devices like tablets are changing the way we communicate,
...work and share information on the go -- it's the next logical step in the "post-PC" world. In addition to an increase in cloud-based services, there is a surge in multiple mobile devices -- with consumers not only using several at one time, but also switching between them throughout the day

Mobile computing

2011-04-07T05:43:00.001-07:00

Mobile computing can improve the service you offer your customers. For example, when meeting with customers you could access your customer relationship management system -...
over the internet - allowing you to update customer details whilst away from the office. Alternatively, you can enable customers to pay for services or goods without having to go to the till. For example, by using a wireless payment terminal diners can pay for their meal without leaving their table.
More powerful solutions can link you directly into the office network while working off site, for instance to access your database or accounting systems. For example, you could:...

set up a new customer's account
check prices and stock availability
place an order online

This leads to great flexibility in working - for example, enabling home working, or working while travelling. Increasingly, networking 'hot spots' are being provided in public areas that allow connection back to the office network or the internet. The growth of cloud computing has also impacted positively on the use of mobile devices, supporting more flexible working practices by providing services over the internet

Drawbacks of mobile technology

2011-04-07T05:42:00.001-07:00

There are costs involved in setting up the equipment and training required to make use of mobile devices....

Mobile IT devices can expose valuable data to unauthorised people if the proper precautions are not taken to ensure that the devices, and the data they can access, are kept safe

What is mobile technology and what are the benefits?

2011-04-07T05:40:00.001-07:00

Mobile technology is exactly what the name implies - technology that is portable. Examples of mobile IT devices include:.

laptop and netbook computers
palmtop computers or personal digital assistants
mobile phones and 'smart phones'
global positioning system (GPS) devices
wireless debit/credit card payment terminals

Mobile devices can be enabled to use a variety of communications technologies such as:

wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) - a type of wireless local area network technology
Bluetooth - connects mobile devices wirelessly
'third generation' (3G), global system for mobile communications (GSM) and general packet radio service (GPRS) data services - data networking services for mobile phones
dial-up services - data networking services using modems and telephone lines
virtual private networks - secure access to a private network

It is therefore possible to network the mobile device to a home office or the internet while travelling