Today smartphones are inalienable part of our everyday lives, they are used as means of communication, tools to help manage almost every aspect of our lives, and storage space for our most personal information. However, their usage is across the globe makes them vulnerable to cyber threats than anything else in the world. As good smartphone users, we all know that it is important to lock your phones to secure your privacy, and your money information as well as your important data in the phone. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to keep your smartphone or devices secure, Since the threats are real and imminent.
1. Lock Your Device with Strong Lock
The most important level of security encompassing your smartphone is its lock screen. Always use a powerful PIN, password, or pattern preferable one that is difficult to guess. Try not to choose common patterns for instance 1234, or year of birth. Fingerprint or face id locks are more secure and faster than entering the Password and Name of the device.
2. Keep Software Updated
It is essential to update your smartphone’s operating system and apps, at least to secure your phone. Some of these updates contain fixes to security holes that the writers of viruses could use. They have to empower an automatic update in order to point with the newest form of the app. For safety, do not try to root, jailbreak on your device since it make your smartphone more vulnerable to risks such as malware.
3. Download Apps Wisely
As mentioned above be careful while installing the apps. Do not download apps from instance sources such as third party marketers commonly known as apk files, rather download from Google play store or App store. Before downloading an app, one should always read the reviews, the developer’s reputation and permission required. If an app is asking for permissions to access certain features or data which the app doesn’t require, then users should look for other apps or even reject those permissions. Clean out many apps by going through your list and uninstall those which you seldom use or are not important.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Proper protection offers you a second factor to enter in addition to the password; this is called two-factor authentication (2FA). For applications, that you cannot afford not to have, particularly email, social networking, and financial services, enable 2FA. Google Authenticator or Authy is helpful to keep your smartphone secure the use of any code that is sent to your phone via SMS because this can be intercepted.
5. Be Cautious on Public Wi-Fi
Social connections are comfortable but not very safe, that is why hackers love it. Do not perform banking or any financial operations, or get into your personal accounts on social networks or e-mail while connected to a Wi-Fi network. If you have to employ such networks, turn on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to ensure secure connection.
6. Install Mobile Security Apps
One should choose an effective application for mobile security that has features as virus and malware scanners, secure browsing protection, and lost phone protection. There are lots of applications where you can detect one’s lost or stolen phone, lock or delete all information on it.
7. Learn how to identify phishing attempts and how best to avoid them
This is where by hackers lure you into revealing your account information over the mobile phone or computer. Do not click on links that you receive from emails or messages and social media accounts or profiles that seem strange in order to keep your smartphone or devices secure. Remember that the sender’s name can be faked, and do not forward, reply to, or even click a link in any email that asks for personal details.
8. Backup and Encrypt Your Data
To avoid losing your important files on smartphone, always backup your smartphone data to cloud or an external hard disk. Modern mouth mobile devices have pre-installed encryption capabilities which provide you with a guarantee that your data will be not readable for the thief if he/she stole your telephone.
9. Support Find My Device Features
Android OS inventory and iOS inventory both contain applications such as “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device”. It will assist you in finding a lost smartphone. They also include the ability to either block or wipe the phone data if it gets into wrong hands.
Conclusion
To conclude, Smartphone today is not just an object, but it is a portal to your life: personal and professional. This means that you can safe guard yourself from the threats and the hackers who may wish to penetrate into the system. Far from being a one-time preventive measure, To keep your smartphone or devices secure is a daily process: be watchful and everything will be fine.
You can also read: https://appslova.com/top-5-ways-to-secure-your-smartphone/
