Reporting Elections, Safety and Security of Journalists Mobile phone security Mobile phones are an integral part of our daily communications. All mobile phones have the capacity for voice and simple text messaging services. Their small size, relatively low cost and many uses make these devices popular. In Zimbabwe the mobile penetration rate is near 100 percent. Recently, mobile devices with many more functions have become available. They may feature GPS, multimedia capacity (photo, video and audio recording and sometimes transmitting), data processing and access to the internet. However, the way the mobile networks operate, and their infrastructure, are fundamentally different from how the internet works. This creates additional security challenges, and risks for users’ privacy and the integrity of their information and communications. It is important to start with the understanding that mobile phones are inherently insecure: 1. Information sent from a mobile phone is vulnerable. 2. Information stored on mobile phones is vulnerable. 3. Phones are designed to give out information about their location. 34 https://zimbabwe.misa.org