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Doing a bit of life-hack in today's blog, smartphones could definitely outsmart us humans in various ways, i drifting away from Blockchain or crypto discussions and i would be mentioning few cases where smartphones are way too smart for the individual owners.

In Africa-Nigeria, it is perculiar case in which Telecommunication service providers extort citizens from exhubirant charges on subscribtions to voice and data services- That is why a 1Gigabyte worth of Data could only last a Nigerian Steemian for just about half an hour on Steemit!

It is a politically masterminded dysfunctionality which is not the bone of contention in my research regarding this blog.

Most times, our devices- smartphones, iphones are way too smarter and this cause us some damages financially and healthwise. I had summarise two major ways we are been outsmarted, read along as i disect the smartness of our evolving devices.

DATA CONSUMPTION

A very incessant occurrence on this side of the World where you wake up and discover all your data bundles had disappeared- gone/exhausted. In developed countries, these are rare scenarios except you are running some sophisticated military grade Apps on your devices. Unlike many developing Nations where mobile data services are less expensive- Reason being Zero tolerance to monopoly market!

A Case Study:

In Nigeria, several consumers complains about a Certain Mobile Service provider(fictional name: 8-mobile), each of this complaints revolved around the same accusation of The Company selling less the value of Data been paid for which exhaust over a limited time. Each of this complainers has a case against this company but here are facts many do not know and put into consideration;

• A smartphone gives breakdown of Data usage App by App, hence the Data appropriation can be traced.

• Apps update automatically if not checked which consumes the Data unknowingly.

• Live video streaming is ever imminent.

This been confirmed, it is paramount for every smartphone user to be conscious of the facts to help them economize their Data consumption. This is pretty simple and can be approached through the following:

Probable Solutions

• Auto-update of Apps should be disabled.

• Disable all live streaming apps and Services.

• Reduce image resolution as some sites are laden with extremely large images.

• Delete/uninstall all unused Apps- this free up space at the same time reduces your data usage.

• Finally, get a mobile Data Service suitable to meet all your needs.

SPYING

As scary as this sounds, the multitude of smartphone users do not know they are being tapped and monitored. If had been exposed how smart phones cameras are been utilized as spy gadgets.

A researcher claimed to have written an Android App that takes photos and videos using a smartphone camera, even while the screen is turned off; a pretty handy tool for first degree spying and for creepy Stalkers.

Just like Blackshades which had been used by hackers to record victims unknowingly with their webcams, one known fact is that; people download some of this vile apps with their consent and most times without their consent. For example, those pop-up Apps from watching Ads and playing some online Mobile games.

Another threat is using public Wi-Fi which leaves users open to an unsolicited tracking. Some games also requires you to turn-on your location e.g Angry Birds and some other Apps like UBER, Facebook Messenger which turns on your microphones and cameras; this are open doors to getting spied on with your smart-device...You don not want your voice messages to be listened to by a third party right?

Probable Solutions

• This is hard, but don't be always tempted to use public Wi-Fi.

• Be extra-cautious of Apps before you download them, read reviews on the Playstore and Appstore before doing so.

• Only turn on your location as a matter of importance and urgency.

• Lastly, do not loose your phone, you might be lucky to recover it; but be sure to check over and over again for spywares and tracking chips.

Our Smartphones might not be too smart for us if this issues as discussed are checked and maybe some of the solutions implemented, who knows; you might be saving tons of money on Data services and damages to your Reputation if you fall victim to spying. Hence respect your devices and keep it smart and not Too Smart!

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Sources: 1- 2- 3- 4

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