27 Tips for Phone Security

There are a number of steps you can take to add layers of security to your telephone communications:

1. Don't use a home phone, only use a cell phone.
2. If you do use a land line (or cell phone for that matter) have the account in the name of another person (or business).
3. Leave the generic, computer-generated message as your outgoing message on your phone.
4. Use a pre-paid cell phone which is not linked to your name (ie: pay for it with cash).
5. Block your outgoing phone info so it will not show up on other's caller ID.
6. Have caller ID on your phones and block any number that does not provide this info for incoming calls.
7. Use a payphone for untraceable calls (make sure it is not covered by video surveillance).
8. Use a few different cell phones from different service providers.
9. Never link your unlinked cell phone to your name (ie: pay for it with cash, register it under an assumed name, and always pay cash for top-off cards).
10. Use an international cell phone (and "load") purchased in a foreign country if it will work in your area.
11. Get on the "do no call" list.
12. Google your phone number and see how it is linked to you.
13. Change all of your phone numbers to new, unlisted numbers.
14. Use VOIP online phone service such as Skype.
15. Never reveal personal information during conversations on your cell phone carried on in public areas--you never know who could be listening.
16. Remember that all conversations/calls/texts/etc. can be monitored/recorded/tracked and behave accordingly.
17. Purchase pre-paid calling cards for use on public and private phones. Of course, do not link them to your name by paying with a credit card or purchasing at a membership store.
18. Consider getting a non-local area code and number for your cell (ie: a New York number if you live on the west coast). Make sure the service does not charge for roaming.
19. Turn off your cell phone completely when it is not in use.
20. Secure your cell by removing and hiding your SIM card when it is not in use.
21. Learn how to tap into a land line from the street like telephone repair people can do.
22. Have an "old fashioned" land line phone (not a cordless phone) for use if the power goes out or if you need to plug into a jack at various locations.
23. If you must leave a personal outgoing message on your phone, have someone else record it and provide the least amount of information possible.
24. Use a disposable phone number (http://www.numbr.com/) for certain situations.
25. Lock your cell handset with your own (not the pre-set factory) security code.
26. Change the pre-set message retrieval security code for both your cell and home message systems.
27. Don't have a phone. People have lived for centuries without being tied to a telephone.