Do y'all remember this post I wrote last week about going off the grid as part of the Absolute LoJack Challenge, to see how important smartphone tracking software is? Well, my #DigitallyDark day came and went...and IT WAS HELL! I cheated a little and planned my day during vacation, on the weekend, so that it would affect my work as little as possible. I thought, "Oh, it won't be that bad, no one works on Saturday and I'll be so busy having fun that I won't miss my phone that much!"
I WAS WRONG.
I was in Napa Valley with my girlfriends, literally 1,000 miles away from Chris and Angeline...and I missed them horribly! Not being able to call them? Not being able to text? It was rough! What if something happened? What if they needed me? What if one of the dogs ran out of the front door and got hit by a truck, and Chris was frantically calling me all day long to find out the phone number of our vet? These are the kinds of things you worry about while you are in the middle of trying to find your smartphone that's been stolen!
And then there's the social media aspect of being without a phone. No checking Twitter, no sharing fun photos of our wine tours or our foodie expeditions on Instagram...
There was no checking email or knowing if I just received the invitation of a lifetime and missed it because I wasn't on email (I have missed several opportunities throughout my blogging career by being too slow to open that Golden Ticket email).
I tried not to think about it and enjoy myself. And don't get me wrong, I did have a great time. But being disconnected was always in the far corners of my mind, a nagging sense of dread that something was happening and I was missing it.
So while I have never lost or had a device stolen, my day of being #DigitallyDark taught me a valuable lesson: having a device taken from you is horrible. I can't even imagine the emotions that would have been involved if my phone really was stolen; the feeling of violation, desperation, wondering if the thief would go through my photos and use them against me, start spamming my email contacts, hack into my social media accounts and totally ruin me, steal my money through my financial apps, steal my identity because my drivers license and passport information are stored on my phone...
We all store so much personal information on our devices. Financial records, family history, years and years of photos - having your phone, laptop or tablet stolen can literally ruin your life.
You can protect yourself in the event that your smartphone, tablet or laptop is stolen with Absolute® LoJack™! Absolute® LoJack™ is a theft recovery software that can be installed on laptops, smartphones and tablets and it can withstand a factory reset, installation of a new OS – it can even withstand a complete hard drive replacement. Once Absolute LoJack is installed on your device, you don’t have to worry about a thief wiping the device so that you’re unable to track it, as it’s not just an app that you install – it’s actual software that is manually installed in your device so that you can actually find your laptop!
Even if a thief resets or installs a new OS, the Absolute LoJack software rebuilds itself and provides a constant link between owner and machine so that you can always find your laptop or find your tablet.
Absolute LoJack Premium 1-year subscripton
Absolute LoJack for Laptops: Mac or PC ($59.99 value) or
Mobile/Tablet: Select Samsung devices ($39.99 value) You can see a list of compatible devices here.
Premium Includes: Lock, Locate, Delete, Recover, Guarantee
You can save 30% off a 1-year Absolute LoJack Standard or Premium subscription! Just enter the promo code DARK30 at checkout here.
Absolute Lojack #DigitallyDark Giveaway
One winner will receive a family pack that includes Five 1-year Premium Absolute LoJack Subscriptions.
This giveaway is open to US residents and ends at midnight EST on June 25th.
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
I would DIE without my phone. I think this sounds like something everyone needs to have!!
Jenn
No social media? I would die the death. Though to be fair it is my bread and butter, right?
Felicia
this sounds like a great service. I don't know if I could go digitally dark!
Melissa
Eeek! I don't know if I could do it. I couldn't imagine my phone being taken. I NEED this!
Lori
Oh my goodness! I don't know if I could do without my phone.
Debbie Denny
Horrible for you. Would be worried about stuff too. Sounds like this Lojack is really great.
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious?
I don't know what I would do. I think I would have planned it on a day when we were all going to be home...and catch up on laundry!
Shell
That would be really hard to do. Maybe a little easier on a weekend, since it seems opps don't usually come in then, but still really difficult!
Jaime
We unplugged for 18 hours last weekend (we were in a remote area - no wifi and no cell service.) It wasn't awful, because I was with my husband and son, but it was weird not being able to check social media, etc. I definitely rely on my phone for a lot!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs
I feel your pain. Sometimes that come at the most inopportune time, especially if your trip is blog related.
Theresa
I went off the grid for 7 days 2 years ago when we went to Disney. I am not sure I could do it again though. We are definitely living in a technology driven world!
Krissy Higgins
This definitely sounds like a "have to have" software for me! I am on my phone all of the time, whether it's texting, taking pictures of my kids, answering work emails or on social media. I could never go digitally dark lol
Christie
I don't think I could have gone so long without technology! But I'm glad you had a beautiful trip!
Brett Martin
Funny to think that at one point we weren't so plugged in isn't it? I can barely believe I survived without modern day technology.
Kiwi
Yes what did we do without technology. Ten years ago we were all with stupid phone (flip phones or big bulky ones at that) with no app just that one Snake game...no Instagram, Facebook,Twitter either...social media is a total distraction go forbid we had to go a week #DigitalDark for real...we would all be in shambles...I cant even leave my house and leave my phone without turning around and getting it because of the withdrawls...
Technology is important and I realized our lives do live within our electronic devices!
Carly from The Puzzled Palate
Is it sad to admit that my phone is always so close to me that I am not sure how anyone would get it away from me with out me noticing? This sounds like a great way to protect your gadgets.
Kay Adeola
I would not be able to cope without my phone or laptop.It is so hard for me to switch off as i always think i am going to miss something lol.
Melinda
i can easily step away from work for a whole weekend but not phone contact?? that would be the hardest part.
Tracey
I would just DIE without social media or my phone. I don't even want to think about it...how sad is that?!
Liz Mays
What a great way to make sure your device gets back to you. I totally get the feeling of being disconnected!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
I would panic like crazy if I ever lost my phone, it had everything in it. It's my connection to work!
Brandy
I can totally go dark, but it wouldn't be easy at first. I love this idea, what a fun sweepstakes too. Hopefully someone enjoys it!
StacieinAtlanta
Yeah, I couldn't do this. I would be lost without my phone. I like my tech lol!
Krystal
Interesting tool! Thanks for sharing the info!
Ashley Morton
I can totally see the benefits of "going dark" BY CHOICE but going dark because something has happened to our phone?! That would probably kill me.
Amanda Love - Growing Up Madison
I wish I had this a year ago when my daughters ipod was stolen. She had find me on there but of course all it needs is a factory reset. Great product!
Tonia
Neat product. I couldn't handle being without my phone or laptop.
Virginia @thatbaldchick
My cell phone took a swan dive into the commode recently (courtesy of the resident 1yo) and I had to go without a phone for an entire week. It was pure torture. I had no idea Lo-Jack even existed, thanks!
cam | bibs and baubles
My phone is seriously an appendage. I didn't know about using Lo-Jack for my phone. Makes perfect sense.
Dawn
My smart phone broke a week or so ago and I have been doing without, Ugh, it's not super fun, let me tell you!
Mary Mougeot
This is a wonderful thing to have... would love it