A few weeks ago, I discovered a mobile phone round the back of my house, baking in the hot sun. I took it home, and after figuring out the UI, managed to place a call to “HOME”. I told them that I had found their phone, and they came round and picked it up, and everyone was reunited with everyone that they ever wanted to be reunited with ever.
Today, I discovered a phone in almost the same spot, shivering in the damp cold. I took it home, and after figuring out that it was turned off, turned it on. It asked me to enter the PIN.
I gave 1234 a stab.
Incorrect. 2 tries remaining.
It’s a bit sad, really. The person who PIN-protected this phone probably thought that they were being really clever. What they forgot to take into account is that in this world, there are actually a surprising number of nice, helpful people, who want to return this phone, but need access to the phone book to do so. Sigh.
I’m stumped now. I’d hand it in to the local police station, but I’m not sure that such a thing even exists these days.
Bernard, meanwhile, is stacking blocks. His tallest tower was five blocks high. This is most impressive.
4 replies on “Protection backfiring”
I used to pin-protect my phone, but I don’t bother anymore. I have ICE numbers stored on it, so that would be stupid. I suggest you do take it to the police station, because that’s the right thing to do. Although I’m told that kids today treat mobiles as disposable items anyway, so they won’t bother to look for it. Or you could knock on a few doors in the street and see if you can find its home.
And what is it with that path, the Bermuda Triangle of mobile phones?
In agreement with Karen. I have ICE numbers on my phone and would need people to be able to use them.
It seems very strange that both have been left in the same spot. Maybe you have interrupted a criminal gang who steal mobile phones and leave them there to be collected by whoever would collect them (ie not you).
Maybe not. But if I can’t find my phone I’ll drop you a line and see if you have it!
in SA most people pin protect their phones. I’m not sure it’s a deterrent to theft as they get stolen a lot but it’s a deterrent to having a whopping big phone bill when it get’s stolen. Which it does a lot.
I would hand it in to one of those recycling charity things for phones at the moment. Or sell it on eBay. A lot of people who lose phones look for them on eBay.
Speaking of security I’m going insane trying to remember the username I set up with HSBC two days ago for work banking. It’s driving me nuts. When the constrict you (has to be 8 or more letters) so you have to create a new user name, and now can’t remember it. Next time I’ll write it down. Worse security, but at least Ic an use it.
I always write usernames and passwords down. Yeah, theoretically someone could break into my house and get all my online account details, but the rewards wouldn’t justify that effort.
I handed the phone into the police station. It was a surprisingly straightforward task – no huge forms to fill in. They just asked for my name and address and where I found the phone.