
If you believe hackers only target high-profile individuals or large corporations, think again. We can be a potential victim regardless of who we are or what we do. Hackers often target ordinary people, exploiting their vulnerability and lack of awareness. So, how can we bridge the gap between our beloved devices and the lurking danger?
In this eye-opening blog post, I will reveal my battle-tested strategies to safeguard your smartphone, ensuring that your private life remains private.
1. Add extra protection with your face, finger, pattern, or PIN.
Most smartphones offer facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, pattern lock, or PIN code features. These methods provide a basic level of protection, ensuring that only authorized users can access your device.
Facial ID, as the name suggests, uses your face to unlock your phone. It scans and compares your facial features to the stored data to grant access. This method is convenient and secure, as it is difficult for someone else to replicate your face.
Fingerprint scanning, on the other hand, utilizes your unique fingerprint to unlock your phone. Just like facial ID, it provides a quick and easy way to access your device while adding an extra layer of protection. Since no two fingerprints are the same, this method is highly secure.
Pattern lock is another popular option for securing smartphones. This method creates a customized pattern by connecting dots on a grid. Unlocking your phone requires recreating the same pattern. This technique offers a good balance between convenience and security.
Lastly, the traditional PIN code is still widely used. You choose a numeric code that serves as your password to unlock your phone. While it may not be as sophisticated as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, a PIN code can provide adequate protection if chosen wisely.
2. Use a VPN.
A VPN acts as a shield for your smartphone when connecting to unsecured public networks such as those in airports, cafes, hotels, and more. Using a VPN lets you enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that your connection is masked from hackers and other prying eyes.
One of the main advantages of using a VPN is that it allows you to surf the internet privately. With a VPN, all your online activities, sensitive data, and documents are encrypted and secured, making it nearly impossible for hackers to intercept or snoop on your information. This level of protection ensures that your personal information, such as passwords, credit card details, and confidential work documents, remain safe and secure.
Public Wi-Fi networks are notorious for being vulnerable to hacking attempts. Hackers can easily intercept your data when you connect to these networks, exposing your smartphone to cyber threats. However, using a VPN creates a secure tunnel between your smartphone and the internet, preventing unauthorized access to your information.
3. Stick to the official app stores for your apps.
Sticking to the official app stores, such as Google Play and Apple’s App Store, is essential. These platforms have robust security measures to vet and review apps before making them available. By downloading apps exclusively from these trusted sources, you can greatly minimize the chances of inadvertently installing a malicious app.
Additionally, when browsing the app stores, pay close attention to the descriptions and reviews of the apps you are interested in. Look for suspicious or misleading information indicating a potentially harmful app. If an app’s description seems vague or lacks important details, or if the reviews mention any concerning issues, it’s best to steer clear and find an alternative.
4. Back up the data on your phone.
Imagine getting a brand-new smartphone and manually transferring all your contacts, photos, videos, and important files from your old phone. It can be a time-consuming and daunting process. However, by regularly backing up your phone, this transition becomes a breeze.
Losing a phone or having it stolen can be a distressing experience. Not only does it disrupt your daily routine, but it also puts your sensitive data at risk. However, regularly backing up your phone can mitigate the potential damage caused by such incidents.
In the unfortunate event of losing your phone, both iPhones and Android devices offer remote wipe capabilities. By accessing your iCloud or Google account from another device, you can erase all the data on your lost or stolen phone, preventing unauthorized access to your personal information. Last time I got amazing internet speed with Unifon (read Unifon erfaring) while taking my phone’s backup.
5. Learn to lock or wipe your phone remotely in emergency.
Locking your phone remotely is an effective way to prevent unauthorized access to your personal or professional data. By activating this feature, you can ensure that even if someone gets hold of your device, they won’t be able to access its contents. It provides an extra layer of security to keep your information safe. We’ve covered you whether you use an iPhone or an Android device.
For iOS users, Apple provides a step-by-step guide on how to wipe your device remotely. This will lock your phone and erase all the data on it, restoring it to factory settings. It may seem like a drastic move, but if you maintain regular backups, your data is secure in the cloud and ready for you to restore whenever needed.
Android users need not worry either, as Google offers a comprehensive guide on remotely wiping their devices. Following these instructions, you can ensure your phone is locked and all your data is securely erased. This is especially crucial if you use your device for professional purposes, as it will keep your company’s sensitive information safe from prying eyes.
6. Get rid of old apps—and update the ones you keep.
Take a few moments to swipe through your screen and identify the apps you no longer use. These unused apps not only take up precious storage space but may also pose security risks. Some apps have associated accounts that store data on your phone. By deleting these accounts and their associated data, you can minimize the chances of your personal information falling into the wrong hands.
Why is it crucial to get rid of old apps? Every additional app on your phone increases the number of apps that need updates. Outdated apps can have security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to your device or personal data. By removing unnecessary apps, you minimize the potential attack surface and reduce the risk of falling victim to hacking.
Once you have identified the apps you want to keep, update them regularly. App updates introduce new features and improvements and address security issues discovered since the last update. By staying updated with the latest versions, you can ensure that your apps have the necessary security patches to safeguard your smartphone.
7. Protect your phone.
Installing security software on your phone can protect against hacking and unauthorized access. Whether you own an Android or iOS device, mobile security software is necessary to keep your data, shopping, and payments secure.
Cybercrime has recently seen a significant rise, with hackers constantly finding new ways to exploit smartphone vulnerabilities. Therefore, protecting our phones from potential threats has become more important than ever. Investing in reliable security software can safeguard your personal and financial information from falling into the wrong hands.
Mobile security software protects against many threats, including viruses, malware, phishing attempts, and identity theft. It provides real-time protection by constantly monitoring your device and blocking suspicious activities or malicious apps. With regular updates and scans, security software ensures your phone remains secure from the latest threats.
After reading my recommendations, I hope you will bring the same level of protection to your smartphone. This advice covers everything from how to clean up your smartphone’s memory to how to protect it from viruses, and how to manage your kids’ smartphone access. After reading this article, I guarantee that you will be equipped with the information you need to protect your smartphone – and yourself.