After a mere ten years, Bluetooth wireless technology has gone from a luxury to a necessity in a cell phone. Although Bluetooth is available to tie other electronic gadgets together, it's most often used for cell phones. If you've ever seen anyone sporting a weird earpiece and arguing with the air, the odds are that this person has one of those phones with Bluetooth technology.

But phones with Bluetooth technology often have the wonderful ability to get malware just like any other palm device or a laptop. Any gadget that can contact another gadget is taking a risk of getting infected with malware that can, at best, destroy your phone and at worst leave you open to cyber fraud. How do you safely find one of these phones?

Phone Shops

Buying brand new phones with Bluetooth technology is always the safest option. These would be new phones fresh from the box. But this means that you are paying top dollar. You don't just need to buy the phone and a phone card - you also need to get a new SIM card and perhaps a memory card and other accessories.

Many phone shops sell used phones (known as "reconditioned phones".) This means that all of the data from the previous owner had been wiped out. The phone might also be checked for damage and then put on sale. Reconditioned phones with Bluetooth technology are the most economical and safe choice (for you and for the previous owner).

Online Auctions

The Internet is infamous for finding bargains on anything from prehistoric turtle shells to phones with Bluetooth technology. The most famous online auction website is eBay, but more and more specialized online auction sites are growing, including sites just for small electronic gadgets. Although great deals can be had from online auction sites, you are taking a gamble. "Caveat empor" has never meant so much as the day eBay went online.

First, you have to check the seller's rating. It should be made of mostly positive comments. The phone itself should be of a brand name that is listed as an official brand with Bluetooth. You have to check the Bluetooth website in order to find the latest list of brands and makes of phones with Bluetooth technology. Otherwise, it's a counterfeit phone with practically no tech support or security features.

Look at the description of the phone on the auction. If the seller gives one or two sentences describing the phone and several paragraphs devoted to methods of payment, then warning flags should go off. Also, if the description says, "Don't know what kind of phone this is," move along.