In 2017, it’s now more important than ever to protect your computers and networks from cyber attacks. But, there’s one device that gets used arguably more than a computer and is something carried around everywhere – the smartphone.
People need to start worrying and taking smartphone security more seriously. Your smartphone is likely full of personal and professional information that hackers would love to tap into: bank information, passwords, contacts, and plenty of other things.
Considering that most smartphones are completely vulnerable, It’s imperative to know what you can do to protect yourself and others from an inevitable cyber attack.
This article covers 5 ways that you can safeguard your smartphone from malicious attacks.
- Make Sure You Actually Use the Password Feature
For some reason, many smartphone users don’t like the inconvenience of using a password to unlock their phone. With technology getting better and the use of fingerprint activation, there’s really no excuse not to use some sort of encryption. It’s becoming less of a hassle every day.
As you probably know, smartphones are much easier to steal or lose than a laptop or desktop computer. So, why then are people so used to having passwords for them and not their phones?
If you do happen to lose or have your phone stolen, whoever ends up with it will have a much harder time accessing sensitive information. When you do find yourself in this situation, having your provider remotely wipe the data is usually the best thing you can do for your safety.
- Keep Your Apps and Operating System Up-to-Date
It’s generally considered a best practice to always keep any software, operating system, and apps up-to-date. Yes, this might be an annoyance that interrupts 5-10 minutes of your Facebook or Instagram checking, but it’s worth it.
Developers of these programs keep pushing updates for a reason – and it’s not just to provide new features. It’s also to remove bugs and security gaps that could make your phone vulnerable to cyber attacks.
- Browse Safely
Sometimes a smartphone is only as “smart” as its user. This means browsing only secure https websites when possible, especially if on your work phone. Try to stay away from sketchy sites with lots of pop-up advertisements or questionable calls to action.
Accessing public Wi-Fi networks should be avoided when doing any sort of business-related activity, checking finances, or anything else you wouldn’t want leaked.
Turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you’re not using them can prevent an unauthorized user from accessing your phone. Plus, it saves battery life.
- Only Download Verified and Trusted Apps
Just like you would on your laptop, be cautious about any programs or apps that you download on your smartphone.
Things from Google, Apple, and other notable companies are fairly harmless. However, there are plenty of apps, especially on the open-sourced Android Market, that are riddled with malware.
Regardless of what kind of smartphone you have, it’s always good to read reviews and know the identity of any app you plan to download.
- Consider Security Software
Many businesses use network security software for their laptops and desktop computers, but this still leaves their mobile devices unprotected.
As smartphones continue to be used for a growing number of financial and other sensitive transactions, it becomes even more important to take all necessary precautions to keep them secure.
Security software will monitor and automatically detect and remove viruses, malware, and other vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, smartphones are just another device that need protected and safeguarded from ever-increasing cyber attacks. Use the advice and tips above to ensure you’re doing everything you can to prevent a potentially dangerous leakage of sensitive information.