With the modern-day era being very tech-driven, smartphones have become an extension of ourselves, containing a great deal of personal and sensitive information. Our mobile phones really contain the key to every bit of our digital lives: from banking details to personal conversations.
Therefore, your phones should be as secure as possible. This article scopes the ten essential mobile phone security tips you should be doing today to keep data and privacy safe.
Mobile phones have evolved from simple communication devices into high-powered pocket computers, such that we use them for literally everything: social networking, buying things online, conducting our finances, and storing key documents. It’s this wealth of information that makes your phone a very attractive target for cyber-criminals and hackers.
A compromised phone can result in identity theft, financial loss, and severe breach of privacy. Besides, since we now increasingly use our phones for work as well, a security breach might expand to include our professional lives and even our employers. These are the reasons why implementing robust security not only rests in our personal hands but also lies professionally with many people.
Before we show you the security tips, it would be good to understand what kind of threats one is trying to protect against. Some of the most common types of mobile threats include:
Now that we have laid the platform of how important mobile security is and what threats we are susceptible to, let us proceed with the ten tips that will essentially boost the security of your phone.
First line of defense: lock screen. Those days are long gone when a four-digit PIN was good enough. Today, you should have a complex passcode, preferably alphanumeric, with at least six characters. Preferably, though, you should employ the biometric security features of your phone, including fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. These features not only offer security but also convenience, making you want to lock your phone every time you are not using it. As noted, a locked phone is way more difficult for a thief or snoop to break into, hence keeping your data safe even when your device falls into the wrong hands.
Software updates aren’t just about offering new features; often, they contain critical patches to security issues. There are some bad guys out there who just continually find operating system and application vulnerabilities that software companies address through updates to fix the problem.
Get into the habit of checking for and installing updates for your phone’s operating system and for all installed applications. Many devices provide an ‘auto update’ facility that may be an easy way of keeping up with current and perhaps more secure versions of your software.
Public Wi-Fi, while convenient to use—for example, those in cafes, airports, and hotels—is usually unsecured. That is why hackers love to hang around such places, as they get to easily hijack whatever information is set aloft over the network. Wherever possible, avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities such as internet banking or accessing work emails.
If you really have to use public Wi-Fi, then do make sure to use a VPN. The reason for this is that using a VPN encrypts your internet traffic; it greatly reduces the potential for someone intercepting and reading your data.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password. This could be a code sent to your phone, a biometric check, or a physical security key.
Enable 2FA on all accounts that offer it, especially for critical services like email, social media, and financial accounts. While it may be a little inconvenient, it prevents unauthorized access even if your password gets compromised.
Many applications request access to different parts of your phone, be it your camera, microphone, location, or other device features such as contacts. While some of these permissions are needed, others may actually be used for profiling you.
Regularly review permissions you have granted to applications, and revoke them if they do not make any sense. For instance, should an uncomplicated game have permission to use your contacts or location? Be extra suspicious of applications that request permission to use your microphone or camera.
This may not be a direct tip to avoid security breaches but is an essential way of backing up your data in case the phone gets lost, stolen, or compromised. Regular backups mean that should anything happen with the device, recovery of your important information is possible.
Many modern smartphones have inbuilt solutions that can automatically backup your data to the cloud. Use these, but remember to create local backups on your computer for extra security.
These could be in the form of SMS, emails, or even calls, appearing to come from very reputable sources, but their intent is to deceive you into divulging sensitive information—a more sophisticated variant of phishing attacks against mobile users.
Be suspicious of unsolicited emails requesting personal information or asking you to click on links. Verify the identity of the sender before responding to requests for sensitive information. Also, avoid clicking on suspicious links.
With all the accounts that we keep today, the temptation is great to keep reusing passwords or using very simple ones that we can easily remember. However, this practice dramatically makes you most prone to cyber attacks.
A password manager can generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Many password managers also offer mobile apps with features like auto-fill, making it easy to use complex passwords even on your phone. Just make sure to protect your password manager with a strong master password and two-factor authentication.
Most modern smartphones provide their users with options to enable encryption of all data stored within the device. Encryption scrambles your data in a way that renders it unreadable without a correct decryption key, which is generally your device passcode.
Full-device encryption adds a formidable layer of defense to your personal information. Even if someone bypasses your lock screen or physically pulls your phone’s storage, they won’t be able to access your data without the encryption key.
Bluetooth does a very convenient job of connecting wireless devices together, but it is equally a potential security vulnerability if not handled well. Hackers may be able to exploit Bluetooth connections to take control of your phone or intercept the data.
Turn off Bluetooth when not in use. When you do use it, remember to ‘forget’ those devices that you haven’t used in a long while, and do not ever pair with an unknown device. Also, be very discreet about what data you send across via Bluetooth connections, especially in public areas.
By taking these ten mobile phone security tips into practice, you can make a world of difference for your digital security in protecting yourself against various risks. Remember that cybersecurity is an ever-changing world, and at each new bend, new threats emerge. At Haxxess, we value the importance of staying ahead of such threats.
Do not wait until that security breach happens. Contact us today and enquire how we can help in securing your digital life. Remember, mobile security is best done proactively and not reactively. Let’s work together in keeping your mobile world safe and secure.