Gone are the days when cell phones were just used for making calls and delivering text messages. This is the age of smartphones. These devices have become much more than just a means of communication. They have become an important part of our everyday lives. There is no hyperbole in saying that smartphones are among our most prized possessions.
The benefits of smartphones are tremendous. Communication, shopping, transaction, you name it. You can watch your favorite channels by availing of service plans such as Optimum packages through your smartphone. Since they are in everyday use, smartphones are a favorite target of cybercriminals. Here’s how you can secure your smartphone from cyber threats.
One of the basic rules in smartphone protection is to enable the auto-lock feature. Every smartphone comes with built-in lock features. You can choose from a pin, pattern, password, and fingerprint sensor. Many smartphone developers have also introduced a face recognition feature for better protection.
Smartphones also act as data banks. They contain crucial information. As users, the onus is on us to make sure that our smartphones’ security is not compromised. You can choose the idle time for your smartphone before it goes into auto-lock mode. You can set your phone’s sleep duration to a minimum for better protection.
Sophisticated passwords are difficult to crack. Make sure your passcode or pattern is complex. Robust passwords are a combination of letters, characters, numbers, and alphabets. Avoid setting your date of birth, cell number, and your name as your password.
Make sure that all of your mobile applications are password-protected. Your app data could contain important information such as your credit card number. Moreover, you should never store passwords on your smartphone. Consider setting up unique passwords for different accounts and apps. The same goes for company phones.
Most smartphone users do not pay much attention to software upgrades. Updates aim to improve user experience and security. They are crucial to the smooth functioning of a mobile device. These upgrades might come off as a nuisance, but they are extremely important.
Delaying app and software updates can make you an easy target for computer criminals. Hackers intend to exploit the vulnerabilities in systems. Older operating systems and hardware are easier to take down. Make sure you frequently check your smartphone for the latest updates.
Your smartphone might contain a dozen social media apps. From Facebook to WhatsApp, each contains user information. Speaking of Facebook, the tech giant recently found itself in hot waters when the data of more than 500 million users in Europe leaked online. The incident sparked a new debate on online privacy and security.
Enabling two-factor authentication can prevent unauthorized access to your smartphone device and other sensitive information. It provides an extra layer of security to user accounts. You can enable multi-factor authentication for both your email and social media accounts.
Having multiple copies of important information can be of great use. Most smartphones, applications, and software come with data backup features. Applications such as WhatsApp allow users to manually select the time for data backups. In case your phone gets lost or stolen, you can recover your data from replicas.
Data storage tools such as Cloud allow quick access to files. They also provide added security. These remote utilities are extremely reliable. Another perk of external storage facilities is that you can store terabytes of data with much ease.
Third-party app stores serve as an alternative to the pre-installed app store on your device. While these tools look tempting, they can cause harm to your smartphone. Established stores such as Google Play and App Store are protected with advanced security measures. They are frequently tested for potential threats and scams.
Many smartphone users are seen to remove existing safeguard measures put in place by smartphone companies. Such a process is called jailbreaking or rooting. Rooting allows you to access apps otherwise unavailable on official app stores. However, it comes with high-security risks. Your device may expose itself to viruses and other hack attacks through illegitimate app stores.
Your smartphone needs continuous protection. Hackers are becoming increasingly innovative. Keep your device in check by following the aforementioned tips.
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