Can mobile phones damage computers?

[bahhumbug]

Following on from something Si mentioned on another thread about mobile zapping floppies, can mobiles really damage or corrupt files on a computer?



I don't know, but it's the reason that I've put forward for confiscation of mobiles which are used by pupils in the computer rooms.  



I think that most sensible schools would have a policy of disallowing the use of mobiles in any classroom, but here they let them away with it.

[casper]

There's a point mentioned here

http://www.uea.ac.uk/itcs/helpdesk/helpsheets/floppy-disk.pdf



and here

http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/StudentComputing/ComputingatQueens/RulesandGuidelines/



So there must be some truth to it.

[bahhumbug]

Thanks for that casper.  I see while both links mention damage to data on floppies and one of them mentions damage to data on memory stick, neither actually refers to corrupting files on a computer.



I've made the case in here that the radiation from a mobile can corrupt files on the computer itself and I'd really like some source to back this up.  So if anybody knows anything about this I'd appreciate any info  

[Gerard]

if its a source of radiation that is suppossed to lead to data loss maybe i should think about removing my 4 uv lights from my machine at home :cry:  :cry:  :cry:



but iv had my usb pen going currupt twice and then die-ing completly on me and i keep it in teh same pocket as my phone



got a new one a few days ago so mite start and keep them apart

[Si]

There has been a recent influx of bad or corrupt USB pens here recently.  I don't know if it is coming from mobile phones or just faulty USB pens - but I would tend to think that mobile phones are the culprit.  Maybe the newer 3G phones do something to USB pens that the older phones couldnt?



Its certainly something to think about, and if a mobile phone is sitting there frying data off your pen, what is it doing to you while its in your pocket?  



Bring back cups and string.

[Gerard]

lol @ cups and strings



yeah makes ya think and if we ever find out that they do do damage to us or things like storage devices im sure it would be 10-20 years too late

[Stephen]

I can understand why mobile phones wreck floppies, every hour they send out a signal (an electromagnetic pulse), you will hear this if the phone is anywhere near amplified speakers, as floppies are magnetic media this signal pulse can blank or scramble areas.



USB pen drives use a type of Flash ROM but I am not sure if the mobile phone signal would induce a current in it enough to scramble the ROM, if it could would it not be possible for it to blank it's own simm card?

[ballsricky]

I have had the inverter board on a particular laptop changed twice due to a mobile phone, apparently the bluetooth signal wrecks the board.  



i'm nearly sure its a HP laptop but the guy said it was a known fault and it was fixed under waranty.