你刚坐下来吃晚饭，电话响了。你想忽略它。但也许这是工作？也许是紧急情况下的家人或朋友？不，这是一个robocall。
电话推销员、电话诈骗、市场调查和收债员都有两个共同点。首先是它们都很烦人。第二个是他们不使用手指拨打电话。这需要太多时间，而且他们从事的是数量业务。
多少体积？在美国，仅2020 年 1 月(January 2020)就有超过 47 亿次自动电话呼叫。在美国，每个人平均接到 14.4 个电话
他们不使用手指拨号，而是使用程序来查看要拨打的号码列表。当有人接听电话时，电话就会被接听电话的人接听。或者它只是播放一条预先录制的消息，要求您推送数字作为回应。
有两种主要方法可以停止或阻止自动电话：
- 使用手机的内置屏蔽功能。
- 使用(Use)旨在阻止垃圾电话的应用程序。
如何使用电话的内置阻止呼叫功能(How To Use The Phone’s Built-In Block Call Features)
安卓(Android)
根据您的Android手机制造商和安装的Android版本，可能有两种内置方法可以阻止自动电话。您可以单独阻止他们，也可以阻止来自不在您的联系人中的任何号码的呼叫。如果您只是想要一个安静的夜晚，您还可以使用 Android 的请勿打扰功能(use Android’s do not disturb feature)。
阻止单个号码(Block a Single Number)
- 在此窗口中，我们可以输入要阻止的号码或单击“最近”(Recents )以查找要阻止的最近呼叫者。
- 一旦他们被阻止，它将被添加到列表中。如果我们不小心屏蔽了一个好号码，请点击该号码旁边的红色减号。那将取消阻止它。
屏蔽所有不在通讯录中的号码(Block All Numbers Not in Contacts)
当你试图阻止自动电话时，请小心这个。我们最终也可以阻止很多合法的呼叫。仅当您确定可能给您打电话的每个人都在您的联系人中时才执行此操作。
- 点击阻止未知呼叫者(Block unknown callers)旁边的滑块按钮。
苹果手机(iPhone)
iPhone 也有两种内置方式来阻止自动电话。与Android一样，您可以阻止单个号码或使用静音未知呼叫者(Silence Unknown Callers)功能。
阻止单个号码(Block a Single Number)
- 在电话应用程序中，轻触最近通话(Recents)。
- 找到您要阻止的号码。点击旁边的iphone-information-icon.png图标。(iphone-information-icon.png)
- 滚动到屏幕底部，然后轻触阻止此来电者(Block this Caller)。
使未知呼叫者静音(Silence Unknown Callers)
如果不在您联系人中的任何人呼叫(NOT)您，您的电话将不会响铃。因此，请确保对您很重要的人在您的联系人中。
请注意，此方法实际上不会阻止自动呼叫。它只会阻止电话响铃。不过，来电者将被发送到您的语音信箱，他们的号码将显示在您的“最近”中。
- 转到设置(Settings)然后电话(Phone)。
- 大约一半时，点击静音未知呼叫者(Silence Unknown Callers)旁边的滑块按钮。
Robocall 阻止应用程序(Robocall Blocking Apps)
如果您使用上述任何一种方法，则可能不需要阻止robocall 的应用程序，除非您真的接到大量电话。此时，最好致电您的电话服务提供商并请求其他电话号码。许多服务提供商将允许您自行在线切换号码。一些服务提供商还提供免费的呼叫阻止应用程序，因此请先与他们联系。
小心使用robocall 阻止应用程序或任何与此相关的应用程序。安全(Security)研究员Dan Hastings研究了一些顶级的robocall 拦截应用程序在我们的手机上所做的事情。
他发现他们中的很多人都从您的手机中获取了他们将出售的信息。大多数应用程序都没有在其许可或隐私协议中提及这一点。考虑在您的手机中添加一个安全应用程序(Consider adding a security app to your phone)。
他们向谁出售信息？最终，对于营销人员。营销人员也是负责进行大量自动电话的团体之一。他们会以一种或另一种方式得到你。
但是，如果您认为您需要一个应用程序，那么让我们看几个。
它易于设置并具有明确定义的隐私政策。免费版的功能简单易用。但是，有广告和一些抱怨说它吃掉了很多数据。
Call Blocker似乎是一个流行的名字，这个免费的应用程序确实阻止了robocalls。此外，它还允许您进行电话号码搜索，并安排“请勿打扰(Disturb)”功能。将其设置为夜间或会议期间以阻止所有呼叫。
一盎司的预防(An Ounce of Prevention)
像所有事情一样，一点点的深思熟虑可以走很长的路。小心将电话号码提供给谁。任何向您询问比赛或免费物品的电话号码的人都会给您打电话。他们可能也会把它卖给其他人。他们会让你以一种或另一种方式付款。
有(Got)一些提示可以分享阻止机器人电话吗？或者也许是一个关于让垃圾邮件来电者陷入困境的有趣故事？我们很乐意在下面的评论中听到它。
How To Block Robocalls On Your Mobile Phone
Yoυ’rе just sitting down to supper and the phone rings. You want to ignore it. But maybe it’s work? Maybe it’s family or a friend in an еmеrgency? No. It’s a robocall.
Telemarketers, phone scams, market surveys, and debt collectors all have two things in common. The first is that they are all annoying. The second is that they don’t use fingers to dial the phone. That takes too much time, and they’re in the business of volume.
How much volume? In the U.S., over 4.7 billion robocalls in January 2020 alone. That’s an average of 14.4 calls for every person in the U.S.
Instead of finger dialing, they use programs to go through their list of numbers to call. When someone answers, then the call gets picked up by a human on their end. Or it just plays a pre-recorded message asking you to push numbers in response.
There are two main ways to stop or block robocalls:
- Use the phone’s built-in block features.
- Use an app designed to block spam phone calls.
How To Use The Phone’s Built-In Block Call Features
Android
Depending on the maker of your Android phone and the version of Android installed, there may be two built-in ways to block robocalls. You can block them individually or you can block calls from any number that isn’t in your contacts. If you just want a quiet night altogether, you could also use Android’s do not disturb feature.
Block a Single Number
- While in the phone app, click on the three-dot menu near the top-right corner.
- A small menu will open. Click on Settings.
- In this window, we can either enter the number to block or click on Recents to find a recent caller to block.
- Once they are blocked, it will be added to the list. If we accidentally blocked a good number, tap on the red minus sign next to the number. That will unblock it.
Block All Numbers Not in Contacts
Be careful with this one when you’re trying to block robocalls. We can end up blocking a lot of legitimate calls too. Only do this if you’re sure everyone who may call you is in your contacts.
- In the phone app, click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner.
- In the menu that opens, click Settings.
- Tap the slider button next to Block unknown callers.
iPhone
The iPhone also has two built-in ways to block robocalls. Like the Android, you can block single numbers or use the Silence Unknown Callers feature.
Block a Single Number
- In the Phone app, touch Recents.
- Find the number you want to block. Tap on the iphone-information-icon.png icon next to it.
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen and then touch Block this Caller.
Silence Unknown Callers
If anyone that is NOT in your contacts calls you, your phone will not ring. So make sure people that are important to you are in your contacts.
Note that this method doesn’t actually block robocalls. It will simply stop the phone from ringing. The caller will be sent to your voicemail though, and their number will show up in your Recents.
- Go to Settings then Phone.
- About half-way down, tap on the slider button next to Silence Unknown Callers.
Robocall Blocking Apps
If you’re using any of the methods above, you probably don’t need a robocall blocking app, unless you’re really getting an avalanche of calls. At that point, it’s probably best to call your phone service provider and request a different phone number. Many service providers will allow you to switch your number online by yourself. Some service providers also provide free call blocking apps, so check with them first.
Be careful with robocall blocking apps, or any app for that matter. Security researcher Dan Hastings took a look at what some of the top robocall blocking apps are doing on our phones.
He found that a lot of them were getting information from your phone that they would sell. Most apps didn’t mention this in their license or privacy agreements. Consider adding a security app to your phone too.
Who are they selling the information to? Ultimately, to marketers. Marketers are also one of the groups responsible for a lot of the robocalls being made. They’ll get you one way or another.
But if you think you need an app, let’s look at a couple.
It sets up easily and has a well-defined privacy policy. The features on the free version are simple and easy to use. However, there are ads and some complaints that it eats a lot of data.
Call Blocker seems to be a popular name, and this free app does block robocalls. Plus, it allows you to do phone number searches, and schedule the Do Not Disturb feature. Set it for overnight or during meetings to block all calls.
An Ounce of Prevention
Like all things, a little forethought can go a long way. Be careful who you give your phone number to. Anyone who asks you for your phone number for contests or free stuff is going to call you. They’ll probably sell it to other people too. They’ll make you pay one way or another.
Got some tips to share on block robocalls? Or maybe a funny story about giving a spam caller a hard time? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
