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If you’re plagued by spam calls and have no idea why, there’s good news — the reason for all of these calls could have something to do with a mistake you’re making that you can easily correct. No one enjoys listening to their phones ring off the hook, only to confront the fact that the callers are robots or sales people trying to sell you products and services you wouldn’t be interested in in a million years. This is the worst mistake you can make with your iPhone that experts say leads to so many spam calls.
Don’t Give Out Your Number On Contact Forms
It’s all too simple to make this mistake — you’re filling out a form and it asks for your phone number. Even when it says “(optional),” you figure — what’s the harm? If you are very familiar with the company or institution there may be zero risk in adding your phone number, but Michael X. Heiligenstein, the the publisher of the Firewall Times, a website focused on cybersecurity topics, urges smartphone users to think twice before including it. “You’re giving your phone number out to someone you don’t know, and many of these sites will sell your data to other companies, which can lead to dozens of spam calls,” Heiligenstein says.
“Once your phone number enters one contact info clearing house, it will likely end up on several,” Heiligenstein explains. “It can be nearly impossible to track down everywhere your phone number has been shared, and even harder to get these companies to remove your contact information. Giving up your phone number once can lead to years of spam calls, with no end in sight – don't do it.”
And that’s not the only thing to keep in mind when it comes to spam. There’s another precaution you can take to prevent a loss of privacy and private data.
“The worst mistake iPhone users can make is not considering how simple it is to lose all of that data they've acquired on their phones, which can lead to an increase in spam calls,” says Tech Expert Olivia Tan, co-founder of CocoFax. “You never know when disaster will strike and you won't have access to your phone. Your iPhone could be stolen, lost, or damaged. And when you replace it with a new one, you won't have access to the data.”
Tan says there are a few ways that you can backup your iPhone so that your information is safe and secure — and where you need it when you need it. “The most popular methods are backing up to iCloud or backing up to your Mac or PC,’ Tan says. “To back up with iCloud, connect your device to a Wi-Fi network, go to settings, and tap iCloud. Tap iCloud Backup and then tap Back Up Now. Keep your Wi-Fi connection going until the backup is complete.”
