Some smartphone users are in an illusion that just by having an anti-virus solution installed on their device will keep all the cyber troubles related to mobile security at bay. But the truth is that the solution helps just to keep the device isolated from malware and not from other troubles such as extortionware, data-stealing Trojans, spyware, and ransomware.
Now, to those who are interested in keeping their phone out of all such troubles, here are some tips to follow-
Keep your phone OS and apps updated on a prompt note- Irrespective of the phone you use i.e. Android or Apple iOS it is a good practice to keep your phone OS updated with the latest security updates. That’s because many hackers are often found exploiting vulnerabilities that companies strive to fix before a data theft or fraud occurs.
Lock it up- Nowadays, most of the smartphone OEMs are offering fingerprint scanners and facial recognition tech on their devices. This helps in situations when you lost your phone and in situations when a stranger found it on a bus seat or in a coffee shop. What if they get access to your contacts, emails, banking apps or photos? So, all your smartphone users out there, it is better you switch to the latest phone inducted with the latest security features in this holiday season as it helps in keeping your mobile isolated from issues related to data theft. Otherwise, you can just engage in keeping a 4 or 6 digit passcode, so that it doesn’t open your entire business to strangers in situations when you lose your device.
Better to stay proactive- In case you lost your phone, then there is a 100% chance that all your secrets will be revealed to the person who found it. So, devices operating on iOS and Android platforms offer ‘Find device’ services such as “Find my iPhone and Android Device Manager” that can locate a missing phone on a map or disable its operations on an automated note remotely. Also, some OEMs are offering a default security feature on their mobile phone which allows the phone to delete all the data stored on the device after 5- 6 false passcode tries.
Keep an eye on apps- It is better to keep an eye on apps and the privileges they are accessing on your device. Also, better to monitor those apps which have permission to access the camera, microphone, contacts, and location.
Public Wi-Fi does a lot of damage- Often smartphone users who use public Wi-Fi are found susceptible to hackers, as the unencrypted open networks invite troublemakers to do mischief. If the use is unavoidable, then using a VPN in such situations makes complete sense as it allows network traffic to goes through an encrypted connection to a server based in another location. Also, it is advised to disable the Bluetooth access when not in use.
Avoid 2FA- While using the mobile banking apps, it is better to use a 2factor authentication as it helps keep your mobile secure from automated transactions made by the compromised devices.
Ignore spam emails and texts- Never click on any attachments sent via emails or mobile texts as it can lead you to suspicious links that steal your passwords, data or even money in your mobile e-wallets.
Better to keep your data backed up- Always keep your important text, photos, videos backed up onto a cloud account, as it helps a smartphone user in recovering the content when an untoward situation occurs.
Download the apps from secure platforms- Security experts around the world are warning mobile phone users from downloading apps or content from unknown sources. And that’s because the downloaded content can contain malware, ransomware or virus codes related to espionage. That is why it is better to download apps from the Google Play Store or Apple App store.
The bottom line is that nowadays smartphones have become the lifeblood for many as it does not help in staying connected with near & dear. But also helps in keeping your life busy with task-oriented activities.
