Using Your Smartphone As a Personal Safety Device

Smartphones have become ubiquitous in the modern-day. However, most mobile phones aren’t designed to be used as a safety device. They’re often less durable and require a complicated process to trigger an alert.

Freely available smartphone apps marketed to prevent violence and improve personal safety have recently been in the spotlight of national policy discussions (e.g., UK). However, user reviews suggest that these apps may not work as advertised and could be exploited by others.

Cellular or Satellite

The mobile phone in your pocket contains a treasure chest of personal information that includes contact data, photos and location. It is essential to take precautions to protect your mobile device against malware and other threats. Keeping up-to-date with your security software, utilising secure Wi-Fi and disabling WiFi and Bluetooth when not in use will keep your data safe from hackers. lone worker tracking devices Public wireless internet networks are also a risk, as malware can access your devices to collect personal information, so avoid connecting to these until you are in a safe place.

Unlike traditional safety devices (pepper spray, stun guns and tasers) that are primarily utilised to fight back against attackers, digital safety solutions - like the personal safety app bSafe - are used to proactively avoid dangerous situations. The app offers a range of features including voice activation tools, automatic recordings and live tracking maps. It also has the ability to create fake calls to alert contacts if you’re feeling uncomfortable, making it easier to walk away from a difficult situation.

While users report that they find apps marketed as increasing personal safety useful, there are concerns about their reliability and the potential for exploitation of vulnerable individuals. This research highlights the need for greater evaluation of apps marketed as violence prevention, particularly given recent national policy (e.g. the UK) and community discussions about their utility.

Discretion

Discretion is the ability of a judge, public official or private party to make decisions on various matters according to their judgment and conscience within general legal principles. In the context of criminal and tort law, it refers to the ability to judge between right and wrong in a given situation, sufficient enough to hold one liable for their actions.

A range of apps marketed to prevent violence are freely available in the UK and may be used by vulnerable individuals who place a reliance on these tools for their safety. However, the scientific evidence currently fails to back up claims made by app developers on the benefits of these apps. User reviews indicate flaws in both design and reliability.

Modern-day mobile phones are packed full of amazing features, but they’re not designed for personal safety. In a threatening situation, pulling out a mobile phone to call or text could escalate the threat by alerting your location or by triggering an alarm that draws attention to you. Dedicated safety apps can be operated blindly, and are usually equipped with a silent distress button that will alert emergency contacts without causing a distraction.

A recent survey by Academic Impressions asked webcast participants what they regarded as the greatest threats to privacy and security of mobile devices used for remote teaching and learning. Although the responses included device settings/glitches, end-user license agreements and malicious hacking, nearly all respondents chose users' personal habits as the #1 threat.

Safety Checks

Although there is much attention -- rightly so -- being paid to cyber attacks and privacy violations online, there is also increasing interest in helping people stay safe in the real world. For example, many mobile phones now have built-in personal safety features. These are usually designed to offer an extra layer of protection, such as a simple-to-use emergency SOS button or location sharing and tracking features.

These features can be useful for anyone who feels unsafe or is in unfamiliar environments. But they're especially important for those living in abusive relationships where an attacker may monitor their behavior and location. These phones can help prevent abusers from spying on their victims by ensuring that their devices can't be accessed without their permission.

For example, Pixel and Samsung phones have built-in safety check features that allow users to set up a time for the phone to check in with them. When the check time arrives, the phone will ask if they're OK and whether they want to share their location with emergency contacts. If they don't answer, the phone will call them and ask if they want it to contact 911.

Most phone makers have similar built-in security features, but they can be difficult to find if you don't know where to look. It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with these features, and take a few minutes to review your smartphone's security settings to ensure that no one is able to access your personal information or use your device without your permission.

Alerts

Most personal safety apps and devices can alert people and authorities to your location, but not all offer real-time tracking capabilities. Choose one with a GPS that can locate you in your current location and sends that information to your emergency list automatically or when you trigger the panic button or device.

Some apps allow you to submit tips and report suspicious behavior anonymously. how does fall detection work These features are particularly helpful for students who may want to let peers know about a peer they're concerned about. Others, like RPI Alert, turn your smartphone into a campus-wide safety device and give you the ability to quickly contact Public Safety when an emergency arises.

If you have a Pixel phone, Google Personal Safety comes preinstalled and provides automatic notifications of local emergencies, such as natural disasters or car crashes, based on your location. The phone also warns you of potential threats to your health.

Other mobile safety apps work similarly, with diverse triggering mechanisms that range from a tap of the power button to a shake of the phone. Once triggered, the app sends an emergency alert to your designated safety contacts and displays your GPS coordinates on a map. The alerts can also include audio recordings, a video clip of the surroundings and a picture of your face to help authorities identify you.