Ways to Protect Your Smartphone

Ways to protect your smartphone

•  Stay one step ahead of the latest threats

With more and more discussions about smartphone security, now is the perfect time to raise awareness of how data can be compromised. Recent advances in cell phones mean the risk of losing contacts and text messages is generally greater if your phone is lost or stolen, and even if you don’t use your phone to access the internet or store sensitive data, you can still exist if it’s not properly protected.risk. We’ve collected the top eight questions and explained how you can take risks, and how to make sure you’re not part of the many evil actors that target users.

• Using a PIN/Keylock

Recent research shows that 54% of smartphone users in the United States don’t have password security on their phones - when the phone is turned on or when waking up from standby. The reason for this is obvious - if a phone is lost, stolen or left unattended, anyone who takes it has unrestricted access. This can lead to data theft, calling or registering unwanted services, and can result in significant financial costs.

There are several ways to protect your smartphone. Many new phones offer a “pattern lock” - a special shape or pattern drawn on the screen to give you access, which is often faster and easier than entering a password. Alternatively, a PIN provides a numeric alternative to a standard password and also saves time. Easy -to -guess passwords are obviously less secure - so avoid “1234,” “password,” and other common phrases.

A screen lock is useful, but it doesn’t prevent people from taking out a SIM card and using it on another phone. To prevent this from happening, set the SIM card lock with a PIN code that must be entered when the phone is switched on to connect to the network.

With these two security measures, you can at least safely know that if your phone is stolen, it won’t be useful for the average thief.

•  Protect sensitive data

While a PIN entry and combination lock were often all that was needed to secure your phone a few years ago, today you can effectively carry a small computer with its own storage — often easily disassembled. It’s not enough to just stop people from opening the phone, because data can be easily retrieved by simply inserting it into a computer or removing a microSD card.

Therefore, sensitive data that can be stored on internal storage must be protected, and fortunately, there are many solutions available. Most smartphone platforms offer software that encrypts files or folders on the device with industry standard protection, meaning code must be entered to view or copy files. This also applies to passwords, login details, account numbers and other information that can be stored to access your bank or online merchant. Obviously, it is important to ensure that such information is not easily accessible, and it is wise to install such protection and use it as a regular practice.

Much of the software is free to download and use, and can be used effectively with your phone to provide seamless auto -protection, so once it’s enabled, there’s no hassle.

In addition to these software, some security service providers recommend storing sensitive data remotely on secure servers on the Internet, rather than on the phone itself. This means that not only is physical data inaccessible on the phone, but if the handset is lost or stolen, it’s easy to change server login details or delete all data.

• watch your wireless

Most smartphones now have the option to connect to a wireless network - whether it’s a router in the office or home, or a wireless hotspot on the go. Choosing a wireless connection is often good for speeding up or saving on data usage costs, so it’s easy to understand why many people prefer a wireless connection. Any device that can transmit data over radio waves is a potential security issue, but fortunately, modern cell phones are ready to help you reduce that risk.

The first thing to remember is to always turn off the wireless connection when not in use. In addition to helping you save battery power, it also ensures that malicious parties cannot connect to your device without your knowledge. It’s also good to keep track of your phone’s network security settings, as it can be configured to automatically connect to the network when you’re in range.

Wireless hotspots and unknown networks are the biggest risks when using these connections - assuming any wireless router that is most frequently accessed in your home or office is sufficient.

A (relatively) common threat that pervades wireless networks and unknown access points is known as an “evil twin” attack. Here, an attacker can provide access to a wireless connection like a real access point for a large company. If a user accidentally connects to this Hotspot, they can find password prompts, login details, and other information that can be registered and used later to access the account. With a little caution, such attempts are usually not difficult to find, and of course requests for information that appear to be invalid and typical should be ignored.

Lastly, people who use phones to communicate in a corporate environment should consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to create a secure private network. This allows users to access certain company websites and resources while traveling and significantly reduces the risk of sensitive data being intercepted by attackers.

• Bluetooth

Unlike wireless networks, Bluetooth is not a potential risk to most mobile phone users, and its relatively short range (about 10 meters) means it is safer. However, attacks can still happen, and it’s important to understand the risks of leaving this technology active when it’s not in use. Hackers have found ways to access phones remotely (if they are at a distance) and use them to make calls, access data, listen to conversations, and surf the Internet.

To avoid this, it is recommended that the default Bluetooth configuration be set to "Not found" by default. This means that users around you who are looking for a potential target will not see your device on the list.

Of course, anonymous requests made over a Bluetooth connection, such as a request to “pair” a device or reply to a message from an unknown source, should be ignored or rejected. Keep in mind that a limited Bluetooth range means users or other devices must be within range in order to connect to the device, so crowded places like cafes, bars, trains, and buses are usually a convenient environment for Bluetooth hackers.

• Use the app carefully 

The latest Android malware news highlights the need for caution when downloading applications and paying attention to software requirements during installation. It is very easy to navigate through these pages to open the application, but users should be careful to ensure the actual requirements to access the various features of the phone, especially if the software is unfamiliar. While the Android market has recently experienced a malware panic, using these “official” channels to download applications is generally more secure and any security obtained from other sources should be considered a potential risk.

It’s also important to be careful when using reputable applications (such as popular web browsers), because it’s often very easy to receive eligibility information that appears when you’re online. It may be convenient to agree to store user data and passwords when logging into a website for your next visit, but it’s easy for people to access their phones unsecured. This is especially important for banks and online merchants, as these sites often store bank account details automatically in the username so that others can easily make unwanted purchases or transactions.

In addition, users should be aware of any potential security hazards that appear while browsing websites, especially when accessed over anonymous wireless networks, and not ignore them without thinking. Web pages that require the entry of sensitive data, such as usernames, passwords, or account information, should always use encryption protocols to protect this information. This can be confirmed by an “s” at the end of “http” at the beginning of a webpage URL (https: //) or by a lock icon that appears in the browser status bar proving that the connection is encrypted. When using any website that asks for personal information, it is best to develop search habits. 

• Root your phone

It’s a increasingly common practice among Android users to “root” their phones. This means having to modify the file system to allow users to access read -only files and parts of the operating system that the manufacturer or service provider does not want to change. Some of the benefits of rooting your phone include the ability to change or remove read -only apps you don’t want to use, change the start screen, back up your entire system, run custom apps, and install custom user interfaces and alternative versions. of the operating system. Rooting is usually done only by “experts”, so they should be aware of the potential risks, but it is also important to know the security risks if someone offers to root your phone mention the benefits.

Since rooting allows users to access system-wide resources, it also opens the door to potential malware infections. Part of the reason why this critical data is inaccessible is to protect it from these threats, and while you can benefit from faster resilience in a shorter period of time, if your device is infected, malicious code writers can also benefit from full access to your device. . For example, an app that requests root access may record keystrokes entered on the on -screen keyboard, delete or copy data, dial a premium number, or install a “fake” app that looks like a real app but has a hidden motive. mind_thought.

This may be alarming, but it just shows the importance of knowing about the potential risks posed by modern smartphones, especially flexible open source platforms like Android.

• Back up your data

Finding a lost or stolen phone is bad enough, but even ignoring the potential damage that can be done by sensitive data into the wrong hands, important files, contacts, messages, appointments, and other information can take a long time to recover. Replace. Hence, ensuring regular backups is important, and there are several ways to do this. Most modern mobile phones now allow users to “sync” information with a computer or website for productivity or backup purposes. This could include emails and contacts using Microsoft Outlook, photos uploaded to online storage, or proprietary software provided by the phone manufacturer to back up important data if lost.

Some modern security suites designed for use on mobile devices also offer automatic backups to resolve issues manually. There are also many services that allow you to back up specific data to online sources automatically, saving you the trouble of connecting your phone to a computer. If you have an adequate health data plan, or you are connected to a wireless network, this is a great way to prevent loss. 

• safety software

Security software can help you avoid many of the potential risks associated with smartphones, and modern suites are designed to address issues specific to mobile devices. In addition to providing more standard protection from malware, spam, and firewalls, the software can help you control your phone remotely and, if it has GPS, can show you the location of your device if it is lost or stolen.

In addition, the device can be locked remotely, requiring access to a passcode on the phone or a specific unlock request to activate it. If your phone is just out of place in front of you, you can send an audio alert request to the device to indicate your location, and even cancel deleting sensitive data if you believe it’s in the wrong hands.

These are some of the most common reasons to invest in a custom suite because, in addition to protecting their mobile devices from the latest online threats, users remain in control of the device’s operation and remain in the hands of thieves.