The Myths of Cellular Phones - Cancer Scares And More

Cell Phones cause cancer.

Current scientific evidence does not show any negative health effects from the low levels of electromagnetic energy emitted by mobile phones, says the Food and Drug Administration. But some recent studies suggest a possible link between mobile phones and cancer and warrant follow-up, the agency says, to determine with more certainty whether cell phones are safe.

"We don't see a risk looking at currently available data," says David Feigal, M.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "But we need more definite answers about the biological effects of cell phone radiation, and about the more complicated question of whether mobile phones might cause even a small increase in the risk of developing cancer."

Source: FDA

Police have discovered guns disguised as cell phones

Alas, this is absolutely true. Around 2001, this story has been circulating around e-mails and most have passed it off as a hoax. However, the technology is available to create a small gun encased within the framework of what appears to be a cellular phone.

It is not really a common thing and it is not something you need to be paranoid over.

Source: Snopes.com

Pressing a sequence of keys on your cell phone will produce a serial number that can be used to disable it in case of theft.

There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to thieves and the phone companies know about it, but keep it quiet.

To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following on your phone:

* # 0 6 #

And a fifteen digit code will appear on the screen. This is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it safe. Should your mobile phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset, so even if the thief changes the sim card, your phone will be totally useless.

Source: Snopes.com

Thieves are using camera cell phones to capture credit card information

Technology of the newer phones is not yet there to create a clear image of your credit card from a safe distance, or even right over your shoulder, however, criminal activities have been committed with a cellphone including those taking sneak pictures of their victims in locker rooms, child molesters getting children in restrooms, and making out the data on a personal check.

Source: Snopes.com

Cell phone users must register their numbers with the national "Do Not Call" directory to prevent their cell phone numbers from being released to telemarketers.

This falls in the category of a scare based on a half-truth. While there is a proposed 411 directory for 2006, it is an opt-in only directory. To be included, you must agree to be in it.

There is no "Do Not Call" directory for cell phones.

Source: Snopes.com

Any car equipped with a remote keyless entry system can be unlocked via cell phone

Systems such as OnStar have a service where you can call them if you are locked out of your car. By RKE [remote keyless entry], they are able to open it.

An RKE system transmits an encrypted data stream to a receiver inside the automobile via an RF [radio frequency] signal, a signal that can't be effectively relayed via cell phone.

Source: Snopes.com

Beware! Mobile Phone virus

There is no such threat. No mobile phone viruses capable of infecting cell phones and erasing SIM cards have yet been discovered.

Snopes.com

A child died during a routine operation because someone used a cell phone in a hospital.

Cell phone interference has created false alarms in infant incubators and prompted heart monitors to spew results making it appear as if patients hooked up to them were in cardiac arrest. It has set off fire alarms and caused IV pumps to stop working. Worse, it has caused failures in some equipment necessary for the maintenance of life itself. However, it has yet to cause an actual death at the hospital, yet there are very good reasons to ban them from the area.

Source: Snopes.com

Cellular phones have touched off explosions at gas stations.

According to some experts there is a danger that using a mobile phone near gas pumps could touch off an explosion, but not only have we found no real-life instances of such an explosion occurring, we don't know anyone who has demonstrated experimentally that it's even possible.

Source: The Discovery Channel's Mythbusters program - Episode 2: Cell Phone Destruction, Silicone Breasts, CD-ROM Shattering