Can Cell Phones Cause Cancer?

The expert panel that evaluates cancer risks today said that cell phones might possibly cause brain cancer.  Full Story from WebMD

The announcement comes from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Like the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society relies on IARC for evaluation of cancer risks.

"After reviewing all the evidence available, the IARC working group classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans," panel chairman Jonathan Samet, MD, chair of preventive medicine at the USC Keck School of Medicine, said at a news teleconference. "We reached this conclusion based on a review of human evidence showing an increased risk of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, in association with wireless phone use."

In finding cell phones to be "possibly carcinogenic," the IARC means that heavy cell phone use might -- or might not -- cause a specific form of brain cancer called a glioma. The finding means that research is urgently needed to find out whether cell phones actually cause cancer, and how they might do it.

The IARC estimates that some 5 billion people worldwide have mobile phones. Lifetime exposure to the magnetic fields created by the phones -- particularly when they are held tightly against the head -- rapidly is increasing.

Children are at particular risk, not only because their skulls are thinner but also because their lifetime exposure to cell phones likely will be greater than the exposure of current adults.

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Important Facets Of Cybersecurity You Need To Be Aware Of

We are living a huge amount of our lives online these days and this is making cybersecurity more and more important. There have been widely reported cyber attacks over the last few years which left people’s data vulnerable to being stolen by hackers. It is vital that all internet users stay constantly vigilant about the ongoing threat of data breaches. To help keep your online activity safe, this article is a guide to important facets of cybersecurity you need to be aware of.

1. Cybersecurity is an Ongoing Investment

Because computer hackers are so sophisticated, your cybersecurity systems need to be constantly updated to keep them one step ahead. It is important to identify your cyber security weaknesses and then implement systems that can provide adequate protection. These systems must be continuously updated or they can become obsolete frighteningly fast. Cybersecurity is not an area where you want to try and save money because a data breach can end up being extremely costly. If your personal finance data is stolen or hackers are able to get hold of your personal ID or social security numbers, they can do all kinds of criminal actions that could leave you at major risk.

2. Modern Hackers and Incredibly Skilled

The first thing that you need to be aware of is that hackers and the programs that they use are so sophisticated and they can hack into computer systems that seem very well protected. It is absolutely vital that you are always conscious of the extent of the danger to stop you from making any easily-avoidable cybersecurity mistakes that can put your data in danger. Even something as simple as a password can be a big factor in how well you are protected. Rather than using passwords, try using passphrases. These are much harder for hacking software to figure out. Your passphrase can be anything like “TheQueenofEnglandisVeryOld!” to “NewEnglandPatriotsaretheBest!!” Mix lowercase and uppercase letters as well as special punctuation symbols.

3. Undeleted Data is a Security Risk

Never keep any data on your systems that you no longer need but which could still be used by hackers to do you harm. Many people wrongly believe that simply clicking delete on a file or dragging it into their computer’s trash is an effective way to delete it but this does not remove all the sensitive data associated with the file. Any data that is no longer needed should be permanently deleted using special data deletion software. There are many options available online which will scour your systems for any trace of sensitive data and permanently delete it. These days, there is even data deletion technology available which you can plug into your USB drive and can drag your data files into in order to erase them forever. This is a far more comprehensive form of data deletion and should be done by everyone to guarantee cybersecurity.


It is so important that every one of us remains constantly aware of the risks of cybersecurity. Make sure that you are taking every measure necessary to keep yourself safe. Consider the strength of your passwords and the software systems that you have in place in order to protect your data effectively. Modern hackers are extremely resourceful, so don’t give them any easy opportunities.

iPhone Cases & Effects on Cellular Reception

During the development phase of a new iPhone by Apple, a large amount of time is spent on the device's inherent signal strength, the calibration of its signal output and its compatibility with wireless networks. As such, if we assume that every iPhone's signal strength is optimized and that occasional spotty service can be ignored, there is still another unexpected cause for bad cell reception: the phone’s protective case.

For most consumers, the effect of their iPhone 4S case on their reception is still widely unknown. Usually, the purchase of such a case is motivated by the additional protection or personalization it offers. The realization of the case’s negative effects on reception only dawn on users after they experience an increase in dropped calls or an unusually slow connection. Nonetheless, not all cases are created equal and it comes down to choosing the right one.

The iPhone 4S' cellular dual antennas are located on the bottom side of the device. Long term iPhone users may thus have noticed that cupping a hand around the bottom of the phone during calls can cause signal loss and developed their own version of the humorously called "iPhone Death Grip." The iPhone 4 & 4S are especially sensitive to contact around the metal band encircling the phone and the seam on the lower left side of the band as they serve the purpose of covering a series of otherwise exposed antennas.

A drop in signal quality can thus also be caused by a cell phone case that wasn't properly designed to ensure the iPhone's best signal. Indeed, the manufacturers' efforts to create a device with great signal strength sometimes get completely annihilated by a case or cover with lower standards. Generally, it is advised to be careful with accessory manufacturers that are not endorsed by the manufacturer—Apple, in this case.

Among the most common materials used for the different cases —rubber or silicone, aluminum, and carbon fiber— some are often incriminated in the loss of cellular signal and the cause for Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Carbon fiber cases show average levels of signal inhibition ranging from 40 percent to 60 percent of the original signal strength. Aluminum and other metallic cases obtained similarly high results, making both materials some of the most common reasons for blocked radio frequencies and lower cell signal reception. Ironically, aluminum and carbon fiber cases are on the most-wanted list of materials for iPhone cases because of their trendy and sleek design. Too often, this proves to be the wrong decision when it comes to signal reception.

On the other hand, rubber and other plastic derivatives are a safer solution for cell phone cases. The conductivity of any rubber is usually minimal and thus won't affect the cell phone's signal reception. In most cases, it can even have a positive impact by preventing your skin (more conductible than plastic) to get in contact with the metal rim of the iPhone 4. The most high-quality iPhone 4S rubber cases even use high-end material for a softer touch, a more fashionable look and a virtually undetectable effect on cellular reception.

If you are extremely concerned about your cellular reception, you might also want to look at the thickness of the rubber or even the color of the item. Carbon and titanium dioxide are common colorants for respectively black and white cases and might thus affect your reception as well.

On a final note, the general recommendation is that you should only buy carbon fiber or metallic cases if you can afford to consistently lose 1-2 bars of signal. Otherwise, a rubber case might be the safer solution.