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Protect Yourself from Cell Phone Hackers

Congressman Israel shares important information about how to protect yourself from cell phone hackers.

We’ve all heard about the News of the World voicemail hackings in Britain, where several celebrities had their privacy violated. The same technology that was used to target Sean Connery and Hugh Grant could just as easily be used to violate the privacy of Long Islanders.

Think you’re safe?  Check out this video to learn how easy it is to hack a voicemail.  In fact, it’s so easy a 54 year-old Congressman can do it.

The trick is this simple: By visiting one of the many phone number “spoofing” websites a perpetrator can call the voicemail service and access a victim’s messages without having to type a password. 

Most people don’t have secrets of interest to the tabloids, but many people do have delicate financial or personal information that they assume is private stored on their voicemail.  This is exactly why every cell phone user should have their voicemail protected by a password – and every wireless carrier should make password-protected voicemail a standard feature in their products and contracts. Some may think this added safety step is a waste of time, but they’re wrong. Your privacy depends on it.

That’s why I have sent a letter to the FCC asking that they work with wireless carriers to make password-protected voicemail standard for all mobile phones and contracts. The chairman of the FCC has already publicly admitted that vulnerabilities in voicemail privacy need to be addressed; now is the time to make sure that we take steps to protect consumers.

For more information on my work protecting Long Island consumers, please visit http://israel.house.gov.

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Long Island Patriot June 15, 2012 at 04:19 pm
With all do respect Congressman, you’re worried about cell phone hacking when the world is on the verge of another financial collapse. Maybe the country would be better served if you did something about Chinese hacking of Pentagon computers.
Eileen Coles June 15, 2012 at 06:05 pm
Why do you expect a Congressman to do something that the Pentagon itself should be doing? They're wearing their big boy kevlar skivvies in there, they can handle it.
Steve Israel is absolutely correct to keep his civilian constituency informed. The Chinese (or whatever enemy-du-jour you want to pull out of the hat today) are far more interested in the wide opportunities for identity theft that abound in NYC and Long Island's relatively clueless domestic and corporate sectors. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've had to tell a new customer that they need to purchase decent commercial-level antivirus software. War drivers are everywhere riding up and down the free wireless, botnets are constantly looking for neglected systems running older hardware to take over, and this is another vector that needs addressing. Right on, Rep. Israel, thank you!
Diane Loretto June 15, 2012 at 07:14 pm
Congressman Israel I read on your opponent’s blog that $430 million in Stimulus money was given to the towns you represent and only 181 jobs were created. I think you owe taxpayers an explanation why the thousands of jobs you said would result never materialized. This is an outrageous squandering of the tax dollars hard working Americans pay to the Treasury. I hope you will address this in future blog entries.
2 Turn Tables June 15, 2012 at 09:36 pm
Diane, you just challenged Congressman Israel. He will now flee, and hide behind military veterans for a photo opp. With Obama's illegal amnesty, it just got a lot harder for naturalized U.S. Citizens to find work. Keep voting Democrat ladies and gentlemen.
Goin' Commando June 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm
I love it. Ms Loretto takes statements by Congressman Israel's election opponent as unbiased and non-distorted (but unproven) "facts", and then she goes on the attack.
And, as for Mr Livingston's comment, he distorts the Obama LIMITED plan to allow young men and women who came into this country at an early age, through no personal fault of their own -- i.e., under certain circumstances and not universal by any means -- to remain in the country. It is a plan that in some ways mirrors one under development by GOP Sen. Rubio, and many of the non-radical-fringe Republicans have long called for kinder treatment of such young men and women. So, the loonies of the right will hate it, and the moderates of the GOP may resent it as an idea-stealer, but most Americans will end up supporting the concept, yet to be fleshed out.
2 Turn Tables June 15, 2012 at 10:29 pm
I don't care if Rubio's plan is similar. Fact is, we are a country of laws. A sovereign country with borders that should be respected. Once again, the looney left uses the race card as feeble as it may be to push ahead their agenda. If someone enters illegally, they or their kin should not be rewarded with in- state financial aid, and other perks of naturalized citizens. The crux of the move circumvents Congress, which I am sure you love, as with most loons who dedicate on the US Constitutuion. To govern a country for votes is a shameful act.
So it sounds like you don't believe in sovereign borders, the U.S. Constituttion, or any law for that matter. And you are a racist, infusing race in every issue you can find.
Phil B. Liberty II June 16, 2012 at 01:36 am
Mr. Israel, Thanks for the tip, but "phone spoofing" has been a problem for a long time, why didn't you do something about it when you had a Super Majority? I am more concerned that the White House is leaking sensitive & secret security information to the public to prop up a failed Presidency. What are you doing about this? Some of the leaks have specifically hurt our dearest ally - the State of Israel. People on Long Island support Israel, do you? I am also more concerned that the White House and Attorney General allowed thousands of firearms to unlawfully fall into the hands of drug gangs, resulting in the death of at least one American law enforcement officer and probably the deaths of hundreds of Mexicans. What are you doing about this? People on Long Island support the 2nd Amendment, but are shocked that the Democrats would give guns to murderers. I urge you to work with Republican Congressman Peter King on these matters and drop your blind allegiance to the White House & Attorney General and call for investigations and prosecutions. Everyone on Long Island wants to know what did the President and Attorney General know and when did they know it? We want to know what are you going to do about these criminal scandals? Are you going to do your job, or just blindly support this Democrat Party criminality?
Joanne Toresko June 16, 2012 at 02:12 am
Thanks for the tip Congressman Israel. Duly noted.
Now would you please be equally clear on why you voted to victimize seniors by hacking $500 billion dollars from Medicare and reducing the flow of money into their "Social Security Trust Funds"?
Critical Thinker June 16, 2012 at 11:43 am
Mr. Isreal, didn't you have enough foresight to conclude that writing about v-mail password protection would promote the discussions set forth above? Don't you know that people are more concerned about their runaway healthcare costs since the passing of ObamaCare, unemployment, the overall poor state of the economy, etc? You must know this. Or are you that out of touch with the constituency you purport to represent?
Jason Molinet (Editor) June 16, 2012 at 01:19 pm
Folks, this is the first of many blogs by the Congressman. Keep on topic. Thanks.
Nancy June 16, 2012 at 03:31 pm
At least these comments are constructive Jason. Have you seen the comments on labates blog? They're scathing. Do you ask those posters to stay on topic as well? Or do you just fight Israel's battles?
Goin' Commando June 16, 2012 at 04:03 pm
What horse twaddle from the radical right brain-drain.
The Affordable Care Act (what the loonies like to re-name "Obamacare," which prompts me to re-name our most cherished medical protection, Medicare, as "LBJ-care") is not the cause of runaway health care costs. In fact, it is the first step to rein in surging health care costs. Let's cap prescription drug prices by having Medicare become the negotiator for tighter drug prices (yes, the poor outrageously profitable drug companies would have to give up some of their excess profits). And let's enforce the amount of medical insurance premiums allowed to go to paying bonuses and outrageous salaries to health insurance executives (the Affordable Care Act is a good start for this objective). And let's properly price medical tests and medical procedures so that health care providers are not penalized for providing conservative but good quality care, as well as not outrageously paid with disproportionate fees that swing wildly even within a Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as nationally. There are so many things that need to be done, but the Affordable Care Act is part -- sadly not enough, due to Congressional obstructionism -- of the solution, and not part of the problem.
Chuck June 16, 2012 at 06:45 pm
The "Affordable Care Act" prompted the following in an actuarial report from the Department of Health & Human Services:
"By 2019....Medicare (reimbursement) rates would be relatively lower than those currently paid for Medicaid..." "...Medicare beneficiaries would almost certainly face increasingly severe problems with access to care." "This gap could jeopardize Medicare beneficiaries' access to mainstream medical care." 2011 Medicare Board of Trustees: "Under the high cost assumptions....asset depletion would occur in 2016." Not much Medicare protection going on there. Than there is the Independent Payment Advisory Board which, can, WITHOUT FIRST RECEIVING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL, make changes to Medicare Policy affecting seniors' health coverage. They're a panel of 15, unelected bureaucrats. Can't see much protection for seniors coming from that crew.
Diane Loretto June 18, 2012 at 10:09 am
As Jack Nicholson said in a Few Good Men, “you can’t handle the truth” Commando. What’s unproven about data directly from www.recovery.gov? Type in your zip code and you see with your own eyes the millions of dollars wasted by our government on stimulus. Nothing biased about this. Congressman Israel works for us, we pay his salary and we have the right to demand answers. Sorry if you don’t like that Commando but we live in the US not Cuba.
jonathan winant June 18, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Most of you are clueless about how to use this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
comment on the actual posted topic. The topic was well written and needed to be discussed. Far too many people are unaware that your voicemail can be looked at by others. Who knows what information lies on a voicemaqil box. If you have a hatred for the poster send him an e-mail or letter which can be easily be done as he is a Political figure. Anyone want to comment on the topic of the post which was about cell phone security............ Scoobie
Robert Dann June 18, 2012 at 01:10 pm
Congressman:
Let's stay on point. Your record is a sad commentary on your leadership and the rubber stamping you provide for this president and the policies he espouses which most of them are unconstitutional....the examples are too numerous to cite here. Let's just say it not about "We the People" but in your case; the Central Planners.
Grifhunter June 20, 2012 at 07:41 pm
Respectfully, Congressman, the marketplace will correct this problem as people will flee phone providers who don't provide password protection. Enough with lawmaking. Hows about some investigation! What have you found out about Fast and Furious lately? Would you prefer AG Holder keep his papers secret? How come the government keeps secrets about its screw ups but distributes intelligence leaks about its perceived success in battling terrorism?
MItch DeMarco June 21, 2012 at 04:45 am
I think its more that cell phones and the cell phone companies are very dangeros both with the information they colect and the equipment they put in neiborhoods and I think this congresspersona and all our elected leaders should rally behind giovanna giunta and help the people of manorhaven get rid of the cell tower thats making our neiborhood unlivable and its now been proven trhat if you stand up for the health of the peoples that their is no limits to where you can go. And when she tears doiwn the cell tower I expect all our leaders to stand behind her and protect the children from cell phone rays I always use a password to keep my information safe from people who are always trying to get personal datas they call them hackers.
Andrew Wayne December 19, 2012 at 11:34 am
It is highly important for each of us to protect ourselves from phone hackers, and even though it is easy to hack your voice mail, other aspects shouldn't be overseen either. For example, leaving your phone with someone untrustworthy could be dangerous as well, so implementing an access code on your phone is would be a good idea. Having strong passwords and a practical way to manage the passwords you use on your phone and on the sites you access through your phone is highly important. Additionally, having important data or documents on your phone on the long term is not recommended, but if it is necessary, you should have a backup of these somewhere else than your phone. And be very careful with what and where from you download apps. In any case, more tips on how you can protect your phone from hackers can be read here: http://www.prestinaegele.com/technology-protect-yourself-from-cell-phone-hackers
Hope it helps. Andrew
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