Jacob S. Paulsen.com

Among my greatest passions in life are smartphones and personal security. I know right; I’m geeky and paranoid. I spent my spare time in the past two weeks considering ways that a person’s cell phone can be utilized in personal security. I’m not referring to the stun gun cell phones or other fake phone weapons on the market. I’m talking about the thousands of Americans walking around with Blackberrys, iPhones, Google Phones, etc who need to eliminate risk of becoming a victim of a crime or scam. Here are my 7 most applicable (not including hand to hand cell phone combat) tips:

1. If you are lost or kidnapped: Modern smart phones come GPS enabled. For little to no cost you can download and install software onto your phone that will allow authorities or loved ones to log in to a 3^rd party website to track your phone. Most of these services also include options for backing up data from the phone, remote wiping the memory and locking the device to prevent calls. In addition to helping you track down your lost or stolen phone it could potentially help authorities track you down if you become lost or stolen and your phone is on you or your attacker. Even if your phone is not GPS enabled authorities are able to triangulate your position based on the GPRS signal from the cell phone towers. This can often pinpoint your location within a 50 ft radius. If you are in a boat that is capsizing, put your phone in a plastic bag to keep it dry, and blow air into the bag before sealing it to be sure it floats. This will help rescuers find your location in an emergency. Mobile Security Software Suggestions: (iPhone) (Android) (BlackBerry) (WindowsMobile) (Nokia Symbian)
2. In a world of viruses and hackers you may wonder where you should be keeping your most private and sensitive data. Online servers or other “password vault” services are vulnerable and your computer is just as weak to crashes as viruses and hacks. The answer is on your smart phone’s SD memory card. Cell phones are virtually impossible to hack from a remote internet connection. As long as you keep your Bluetooth turned off, or at least make your phone “Not Discoverable” you remain safe from any local hackers too. Even if you break or damage your phone, the memory card will not be damaged easily and even dropping your phone in water will not cause you to lose any data. Are you afraid you will lose your phone? No problem if you are employing one of the programs mentioned above. Just remotely backup your data and then wipe the memory device.
3. ICE: EMTs and hospital staff across the nation are being trained to look in the address book of a victim’s cell phone for an emergency contact. You are advised to create a new contact in your address book under the name of ICE which is an acronym for In Case of Emergency. This empowers emergency medical technicians to contact a loved one to ask about allergies to medicines or to simply inform them of your injury or accident.
4. Cell Phone users are less likely to be victims of random attack. Next time you find yourself in a quiet parking lot or in a dark alley just pull out your cell phone and call someone. If they don’t answer, pretend that they did and begin a fake conversation with their voice-mail. Potential attackers are likely to avoid people who are on the phone since the potential victim could easily describe the assailant or at least alert the 3^rd party to the action. What should you talk about? Your location and your surroundings. Also indicate that you are on your way to meet with someone else. Example: “Yeah I just came out of the building on the south side. Where are you meeting me? I don’t see you yet, how far away are you?
5. Ever had a phone conversation that you wish you had recorded? Use your phone. Most phones have the option to record voice notes and many smart phones have 3^rd party software that will even allow you to record phone calls. Next time you are in a debate with your boss or an argument with your ex spouse… record it. Without drawing any attention turn on the recording feature on your phone and set your phone down on a surface where the microphone will be between you and the other person. Be aware that each state has different laws that govern your right to record conversations with or without the consent of all parties.
6. Having a cell phone means having constant access to a digital camera. Use it. Next time you are involved in or witness to a traffic accident use your phone to take pictures of all the damage and the license plates of the cars involved. Other good times to take pictures include when you meet someone for the first time, when driving somewhere for the first time (landmarks), or when you rent a car or check into a hotel room (existing damages).
7. Of course a cell phone can be used to call 911 from anywhere. Any cell phone can dial 911 even without having been active on a current plan. The international universal mobile emergency number is 112. Keep your old cell phone in the trunk of your car along with a charger to use in case of an emergency when your own phone is dead or unavailable. Purchase a “crank” cell phone charger that will power your emergency phone with a little muscle work. This would be especially useful if someone threw you in your own truck and left you there. Especially seek out an emergency phone with CDMA service. CDMA technology has much wider coverage in remote areas outside of the city. The biggest CDMA wireless carriers in the US are Verizon and Sprint.

We live in an unsafe world. While many of my friends and family may think I’m paranoid, I prefer to think that I’m just more aware. I have prepared 10 basic safety tips worthy of both Tim Ferris and Jason Bourne. The first five are among the very best of the traditional safety tips you have heard in the past. The last five are equally important but perhaps a little more extreme for those of us who like being really prepared.

1. The number one greatest thing you can do to ensure your family’s security is to choose a home in a safe neighborhood in a safe community. Research indicates that there is no single greater factor to ensure your family’s protection from crime and attack. Local law enforcement agencies are a good resource along with your state government website where crime statistics are usually published for the public every quarter. Put your family’s safety ahead of your own career when finding a good home.
2. In a recent survey among USA law enforcement officials when asked “What is the single greatest thing we can do to our home to prevent home invasion and burglary” the number one answer was, “Get a dog.” The second most popular answer was to get a “Home Security Alarm” sign and install it in a prominent place. Naturally big loud dogs are best and dog barking alarms can be purchased for little to nothing. Diversion signs can also be found for sale.
3. When you go on vacation go the extra mile to get a house sitter to live in your home while you are away. If this becomes impossible put timers on your lights and TV, put a temporary hold on your mail, and ask a neighbor to park in your driveway. Keep a small collection of high quality hidden safes to use within your home an in your luggage when you travel. Disguising your valuable is the best way to keep them safe.
4. Three more solid safety tips for the exterior of your home. Get motion activated flood lights in your yard. This will not only illuminate potential predators but will also light up the yard for late night family football games. Trim bushes and hedges to be too small for someone to hide in or behind. Install dead bolts on all exterior doors and change the locks after first moving into your home.
5. In regards to your vehicle safety: Purchase an emergency glass hammer and keep it in your vehicle as an emergency exit tool. Keep your car remote in your pocket at all times and on your night stand at night. The panic button makes for an easy and loud personal alarm when needed. Keep an emergency road kit and first aid kit in the trunk of your car at all times along with basic tools.
6. Take a firearm safety tips or state certified concealed weapon class in your local area. The education is priceless and after the class you can decide if it would be wise for your family to purchase a handgun to keep in the home. Continue to train on the range and seek out as much ongoing education as possible in the way of books and other local firearm courses.
7. Seek out security software for your cell phone. Smart-phones have software available that makes tracking them down easy via GPS and built in GPRS frequencies. This will come in handy not only if you lose your phone but also if you are kidnapped or lost. Make sure that family members are familiar with how to use the software to locate your device. (iPhone) (Android) (BlackBerry) (WindowsMobile) (Nokia Symbian)
8. Purchase and memorize “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.” Yes, I’m serious. This book will cover all the extra important things like hot wiring a car, performing 180 degree turns in your car, taking a punch correctly, escaping wild animals, and performing emergency tracheotomies. If that weren’t enough you will also learn how to land a plane, treat a bullet wound, and survive lost in the wilderness or adrift at sea. If you want to go the extra mile buy it’s sequel, “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel.”
9. Establish emergency procedures with your loved ones. In addition to standard fire escape routes and safe rooms for your home also consider the following. Decide on key rendezvous locations and assign each one a code name. Potential locations could include: relative/friend’s home, zoo, shopping mall, etc. Also establish a code name for each family member and an emergency phrase that family members can use to signal that they are under duress.
10. Keep emergency stashes of the most important essentials in key locations. Essentials may include: cash, firearm plus ammunition, photocopies of passports birth certificates and insurance policies, a prepaid cell phone w/ charger, etc. Storage locations may include: safe deposit box, buried lock box in one of your key rendezvous locations, rented storage space, etc.

Did I forget any safety tips?