Tag Archives: Mobile

Clean your smartphone safely

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How to clean your smartphone safely? Does your new cleaning routine include your phone? Samsung has issued a warning to be careful how you clean yours, to avoid causing permanent damage. Take a look a at a recent article in the Daily Express https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/1281468/Samsung-galaxy-phone-clean-warning-damage-risk

For many of us, our mobile phones are stuck to our hands throughout the day on our commute, at work and at home. But if we’re cleaning our hands more often, shouldn’t we be doing the same with our handhelds?

Clean your smartphone safely

While you may want to clean your smartphone, some substances can damage the device. Dr Lena Ciric, a microbiologist from University College London, says you can effectively clean your phone using just household soap and water.

Five ways to safely clean your mobile phone

While keeping your hands clean is relatively straightforward, a mobile phone is a different matter. We walk you through your options to clean your smartphone safely

There are a few ways to ensure that you clean your smartphone safely while avoiding any unnecessary damage to the device. Before cleaning, always start by turning your phone off, and ensure you leave it to dry once before turning it back on. It’s also advised that you clean your phone daily.

1. The safest option is wipes

As advised by brands such as Apple and Google, using a 70% alcohol wipe is the best option for cleaning your phone. These wipes can be used on all the exterior surfaces of the phone such as the display and rear casing, avoiding any openings on the phone (headphone ports, speakers, etc).

2. Use mild soap and water as an alternative

This method might not be as good for germ-busting as alcohol wipes, but if all else fails, with some soap on hand you can get rid of some of the grubby bacteria that’s hiding in plain sight on your phone.

Start by making a mixture of dish soap and water. All advice points to avoiding dunking your phone in soapy water at any cost because this can seriously damage its internals. Instead, dip a microfibre (and preferably lint-free) cloth into the solution. These cloths are much less abrasive than towels or tissues and are less likely to damage the protective, scratch-resistant layer on your phone’s display.

Ensure that the cloth isn’t dripping wet either. It should only be damp so that no excess water gets into the phone, especially if it’s not waterproof.

3. If all else fails, give it a light rinse – but only if it’s waterproof

This tip is strictly for those whose phones are certified waterproof. And not just any IP waterproof certification either – IP67 and up.

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings certify your phone against dust ingress and contact with water at varying levels, depending on their rating number. If your phone is IP67 certified your phone can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes, while IP68 certified phones are fine in up to 1.5 metre of water, although this can vary by manufacturer so it’s always best to check.

If you don’t have any wipes or dish soap to hand, you can rinse your phone in fresh water to clean it. Again, we would caution against dunking it into water with any added cleaning products as this could seriously harm the internal components and get into the openings of the phone. Beware if you have any cracks on your phone as well, as water can inadvertently seep into the phone more than you hope for it to.

Be sure to leave your phone to dry for at least five minutes if you use this method.

4. Don’t use household cleaning products like bleach

You might be tempted to mix up your own concoction using some trusty cleaning supplies. Manufacturers have warned against doing this as the harsh chemicals in these cleaners can wear down the protective layer of your display.

Always avoid using products like bleach anywhere near your phone. Another thing in your cleaning arsenal that you should also keep away from your phone is kitchen roll, which can often be abrasive. Even tissue can be harsh on your phone’s display. They can leave scratches, especially if used several times with excessive force. Try and opt for a gentler microfibre cloth instead.

5. Don’t forget to clean the case

Cleaning advice doesn’t just go for those that are getting hands-on contact with their smartphone. If you’re using a phone case to cover your precious handset, you should be just as diligent with cleaning it. Particularly if your phone case doubles as a purse to store your cards and money.

On the whole, the same tips apply to your case as your phone. Sometimes, you may have a bit more freedom. Ensure that you always remove the phone from your case before cleaning it.

Cleaning advice varies depending on the material of case you have. We’ve given some tips below so that whether you’re clutching a leather, wood or silicone-coated smartphone, you’re keeping it germ-free:

Leather: Use a damp cloth with a mild hand soap and water solution. You can also use a mild cleaner with the cloth to get stubborn stains out.

Plastic, rubber and silicone: Soak the case in a solution of dish soap and warm water for a few minutes. If you have any stubborn stains, you can gently scrub a toothbrush on them to try and get them out. Dry the case with a microfibre cloth.

Wood:  Contact with water can deteriorate the wood. So use a dry microfibre cloth regularly to wipe these cases down.

How can we help your business?

We are not cleaning experts and cannot guarantee to help you with your clutter and hygiene. However, we offer every telecoms service to keep your business connected. Contact The LIS Help Desk today to speak to one of our friendly and experienced team to discuss your requirements.

#SamsungPhones #CleaningWarning #AvoidPhoneDamage

Google Malware Threats

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Google has been busy removing malware threats from Google Play, but now they’re back. Here’s what to watch out for take a look at this recent article about Google Malware Threats. So, how has this happened? Google Malware Threats can steal sensitive information or send fake emails from a user’s email account. This often happens without the user’s knowledge.

Contact the LIS Help Desk to discuss our latest Office 365 Security Package, Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam software solutions.

Google Malware Threats

Android malware authors have been relying on a solid trick for bypassing Google’s security scans and sneaking malicious apps into the Play Store.

Almost 2 billion malware installs thwarted by Google Play Protect in 2019

Strengthened app safety policies, a better developer approval process and enhancements to its machine learning detection system made the Google Play Store an even more secure place last year, according to Google.

“Last year, Google Play Protect also prevented more than 1.9 billion malware installs from non-Google Play sources,” Google Play Product Manager Andrew Ahn. He wrote in reference to Android’s built-in threat protection tool. The figure represents an increase from 1.6 billion malicious apps from outside of the official Android storefront that were blocked.

A new Android marketplace policy introduced in 2018, also recorded a 98% decrease in apps accessing users’ SMS and call log dat. The remaining 2% require access to data in order to perform core functions. (In some cases, the new policy affected legitimate services from using SMS permissions for security, privacy and safety reasons.)

The tech giant also ramped up its protection against malicious apps. It praised its collaboration with partners in the Android App Alliance, of which ESET is an inaugural member. Enhanced vetting mechanisms helped Play Protect stop over 790,000 policy-violating apps from being published to Google Play. The store’s threat protection service now scans over 100 billion apps every day. This allowed it to double the number it scanned in 2018.

More improvements required

Other improvements include a new policy aimed at protecting children and families. This led to the removal or updates of tens of thousands of apps last year. The policy introduced new requirements concerning the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). As well as the suitability of content and adverts for children.

Having said all that, Google stressed that there’s more work to be done. They reiterated its commitment to enhancing users’ privacy and security.

All things considered; you can always take several easy steps that will go a long way towards beefing up your protection. These include being cautious about the apps you install. Be carefull especially – but not only – from outside the Play Store. Users need to pay attention to the permissions that the apps request. Maake sure you have a reputable mobile security solution installed on your device.

Contact the LIS Help Desk to make sure your protected, stay safe and be secure!

#GooglePlay #MalwareThreats #AndroidUsers

 

Entertain The Children

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How to you entertain the children whilst working from home? Guilty of giving your children your phone to watch YouTube for 5 minutes while you try to complete some work? Well now you can do that without them opening 100 other apps and calling your Grandma. Look at this cool trick to entertain the children.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/11607292/iphone-lock-touchscreen-ipad-kids-cat-pet-how

It means parents can hand an iPhone to their kids to watch a YouTube video without fear of them getting into the phone’s other apps. The setting can be found in any iOS device, so it works with iPads as well. The trick was shared on Facebook where it quickly picked up thousands of likes and shared more than 128,000 times.

Entertain The Children

Parental controls. Have peace of mind that your children are safe without them having access to all your apps.

How to use Guided Access to lock an iPhone touchscreen

If you have an iPhone (or iPad) go into the Settings menu and find the ‘General’ tab. Scroll down to Accessibility and tap it, then go to the bottom to find the option to toggle on Guided Access. Once you’ve toggled it on, all you need to do is triple-click the power switch (or Home button if you’re using an older iPhone or iPad) to enable it. Now you can hand the phone over to your partner, child or pet without worrying about them poking and prodding through your phone.

Other iPhone Hacks You Never Knew About

There are dozens of cool iPhone features hidden beneath the surface that you probably weren’t even aware of and not just the knowledge that cat litter can bring your phone back from a watery death. Readers Digest have recently published some other iPhone Hacks might not know about. Check out full article click here.

If you would like to discuss the latest technology, phone systems, laptops or computers for your business contact us. The LIS Help Desk are more than happy to help you with your requirements and troubleshooting.

#iPhoneHack #5MinutesOfPeace #LockScreenForKids

Android phone hidden features

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Unlock your Android phone hidden features. The Android versus iPhone debate continues to rumble on. However, one thing is certain: Google’s phone software is more versatile and customizable than Apple’s offering. Dig into your Android phone hidden features you will find a host of clever features and useful tools.

Here are some hidden features you’ll definitely want to know about. For example, split screen mode, automatic video captioning or how about picture in picture, enabling you to watch YouTube whist you check your email. Whilst on a hand held device.

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/6-hidden-android-features-that-will-blow-your-mind-and-how-to-use-them/

Android phone hidden features

Your phone is smarter than it looks! Android is loaded full of features—many of which are not completely obvious or are possibly even hidden behind “secret” menus.

The history behind the Android phone

Sometimes it feels like we’ve been running Google’s mobile OS on our Android devices forever. It is less than 10 years since the first official Android phone launched in stores. Google’s decision to make Android an open source OS allowed it to become highly popular with third-party phone makers.

Just a few years after the launch of Android 1.0, Smartphones that had the OS installed were everywhere. Now it has become the most popular mobile OS in the world, defeating its many competitors like Symbian, BlackBerry, Palm OS, webOS, and Windows Phone. Apple’s iOS is the only platform still standing as a serious competitor to Android, and that situation doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon.

Conclusion

Apple need to start selling new iPhones that are much cheaper than its current models. It would seem reasonable to predict that Android will continue to dominate the mobile OS market, even with its history of problems providing swift updates. Android is being installed on phones that are sold for less than £100 as well as on expensive flagship devices like the current champion: the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. That flexibility, combined with yearly updates, will ensure Android will remain the leader in this industry for years to come.

Contact LIS if you need a new business mobile contract. If you need a new phone line for home or the work place we offer various VOIP solution. As well as helping with better connection, a super-fast fibre broadband supplier or even a leased line for guaranteed fast speeds. We have it all, and they’re all delivered to you with our impeccable IT support.

#HiddenAndroidFeatures #SecretFeatures #mindblowing