{"id":177,"date":"2023-04-10T14:03:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T14:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/?p=177"},"modified":"2023-05-05T13:14:47","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:14:47","slug":"smartphone-security-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/articles\/smartphone-security-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Smartphone Security Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Adulting can be hard. Eat your greens, exercise, get enough sleep, pay your bills. And always remember to keep your phone protected.<\/em> With how prominent smartphones are in our everyday lives, mobile security has become one of those topics you just cannot avoid. We are constantly reminded to change our passwords, update our operating system and apps, take care with the sites we visit, and so on. While most of us have accepted that getting hours of sleep and having a healthy diet are pipe dreams, perhaps we can do better at using our favorite tech gadgets responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have compiled a list of our top 10 smartphone security tips to keep you and your data safe from prying eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our first tip may seem like an obvious one, but you\u2019d be surprised at just how many people forget the basics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several valid smartphone lock methods, and you can even use apps to lock your phone. We recommend using a fingerprint scanner if your device has one. It is a more secure method than FaceID, as fingerprints are not only unique to each individual on the planet, but differ between each finger as well. If you don\u2019t have access to the most secure cell phone protection method and are wondering how to lock your apps, there are other options as well, such as face identification, PIN codes, PIN lock apps, passwords, and unlock patterns. Just be careful not to use overly simplistic patterns or obvious PIN codes such as your year of birth or an easily guessable sequence of numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A safe phone is more than just a screen-locked phone. Many hacker exploits rely on vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems – doubly so on Android platforms, which are subject to the largest number of smartphone hacks of any smartphone platform. Android smartphone security relies on constant updates to keep ahead of the hackers, but many people turn automatic updates off. Furthermore, in a bid to keep buyers purchasing new phones, many manufacturers deliberately cut support for the latest operating systems from their older models. If you want to stay on top of things, make sure to actively keep track of OS upgrades in order to avoid a variety of potential smartphone security issues that stem from outdated software on your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another obvious tip that doesn\u2019t apply only to mobile phones is to be extra careful with your passwords. Many people settle for obvious and easily guessable passwords. These can include their names or surnames, those of their pets or family members, and other information that would be obvious, such as birth year, month, or date. Try using passwords that start with a capital letter, and include symbols and numbers. For even more security, you could try acronyms or using a smartphone password manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of smartphone security tips, it\u2019s not just weak passwords, but the lack of password variety that can lead to data breaches. A lot of people take the easy way out and use the same two or three passwords for every app they use and site they visit. Don\u2019t do that. It\u2019s fine to use simple and repeatable passwords for things like gaming website accounts, as long as you don\u2019t use the same ones for your phone or online banking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If \u201chow to secure my phone from hackers\u201d appears on your to-do list, start by taking a few simple steps to ensure that hackers have to work hard to get at your data. Not even the best smartphone security apps can make up for basic negligence. A lot of people tend to trade security for convenience by leaving important information stored on their phones so they do not have to enter it again when logging into social networks or making online payments. This makes it really easy for those with access to your phone to swipe information that could potentially cost you more than just some embarrassing personal correspondence leaking out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Web browsers are another common hunting ground for hackers. Smartphone security tips for your browser often mention the various risks associated with surfing the web on your phone. We\u2019re not talking just about the risks that occur due to various internal security vulnerabilities, either. A more common and overlooked risk involves leaving your browser in charge of log-ins and passwords, by letting them remember all of the data for you. Be smart and responsible when using your phone – it\u2019s easier to enter your email password, forum log-in, or credit card details every time than to cope with such a loss of data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When talking about smartphones and security, another often overlooked aspect is using only official and sanctioned software. Although it may be tempting to jailbreak or root your phone and make use of third-party apps promising to speed up and unlock extra features on your phone, try to avoid the temptation. Both Google and Apple have strict rules on what apps are allowed on their stores for a reason – many internet phone apps contain malware and exploits that are designed to steal personal data from your phone. Making sure to only use official software won\u2019t necessarily give you the most secure phone, but it\u2019s definitely an important and often overlooked step in the process of keeping your private data safe. It\u2019s no accident that mobile manufacturers do not look kindly on people rooting or jailbreaking their devices or using third-party app sites – those safety precautions are there for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another idea that doesn\u2019t originate on mobile devices, but works just as well as it does on personal computers. There are many cell phone security apps for Android, iOS, and Windows Mobile devices. You should use one, even though it can seem a bit overwhelming choosing one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There has been a lot of bad press about how phone security apps can slow down your device. In reality, most good ones are pretty unobtrusive and cause slowdowns only when doing deep scans. On the other hand, they can make sure that your phone is safe from malware files and exploits even if you do visit suspicious sites or try to download apps that might otherwise damage your device or steal data. They are not omnipotent, though, so you should still be careful with the files you download and the sites you visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTop 10 Security Tips for Your Smartphone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Make Sure Your Screen is Always Locked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Keep Your Phone Software Updated<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Create Strong Passwords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Don\u2019t Reuse Passwords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Don\u2019t Save Personal Log-Ins and Payment Details on Your Phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Download Apps Only From Secure Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Install an Antivirus Solution on Your Mobile Phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n