Fox on Tech: Fourth of July is dangerous for smartphones
The long holiday weekend is here, and that means cellphones across the country are at risk for damage and destruction.
With summer officially upon us, it’s a good time to think about keeping your smartphone safe. But the long Fourth of July holiday weekend is here, and that means cellphones across the country are at risk for damage and destruction.
According to consumer electronic insurance company Asurion, more phones are damaged or destroyed on the Fourth of July than any other holiday, and they've got a few tips you should keep in mind before you take your phone along for a ride. First, you should add your contact information to your home screen so, if it gets lost, whoever finds it can find you. IPhone users should also make sure the "Find My IPhone" feature is enabled, while Android users should download "Find My Device." You should also set up a protection plan with your wireless carrier if that's an option.
Asurion didn't say why the Fourth of July is the most dangerous holiday for your phone, but it could have a lot to do with water damage. Though most new smartphones are water resistant, they're not always waterproof, which means they can get a little wet but not take a swim unless they're in water-tight cases.
And for your photos, if you haven't already done so, set up a cloud backup service like Dropbox, Icloud or Google Photos. That way, every photo you take will be quickly saved off your device. And as a bonus, it will also be easier to share photos with family or friends.
And finally, while you're soaking up the sun, make sure your devices are properly shaded. Direct sunlight can cause them to overheat and shut down, causing potential long-term damage.
Overall Asurion says liquid and water damage claims climb by about 250 percent during the holiday, while cracked screen claims increased 40 percent and unrecoverable claims tripled. So if you break, damage, or lose your phone this weekend, you're not alone!
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