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A mobile phone is one of the most impactful technological developments of our lifetime. Today, you can run almost every aspect of your life on cellphone gadgets at limited or no costs. Smartphones have improved communications, social interactions, payments, and research.
However, these have come with a risk. As mobile phone technology expands, cybercriminals improve on their illegal acts. Nowadays, it’s easy for people to get scammed for money or have their personal information stolen through an internet-enabled cellphone. Extra vigilance is required to guarantee your phone security at all times.
Easy Tips to Keep Your Phone Secure
There are numerous ways to keep your phone secure without too much hustle. Regardless of how you use your smartphone, adopting these tips could keep you safe.
Use Reverse Phone Lookup Sites
Smishing is one of the tricks used by fraudsters to rip people off their money or acquire their personal information. It involves criminals pretending to be someone they are not, usually an organization or individual you know. They regularly implement their fraudulent tactics through messages, and this is where reverse phone lookup sites come in handy.
These platforms allow you to check who the phone number is registered under before engaging with its owner. Nuwber, Spokeo, Intelius, and PeopleLooker are the top reverse phone lookup platforms you can use.
Install Security Software
Installing antivirus and anti-malware software is an essential countermeasure in preventing mobile hacks. Being on the internet exposes you to significant risks of downloading malware or getting a virus attack without being aware. With the right security software, the threat could be detected early and eliminated.
Download a VPN
VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is an online tool used for safety purposes while browsing. VPN establishes protected network connections to a private server rather than linking up with everyone on a public network. Besides, it also encrypts your information through server-to-server engagement, deterring third-party access.
Activate Remote Wipe Capabilities
Remote wipe is an inbuilt security feature that allows phone users to remove data from a device even when they don’t have it. Setting up the wipe command activates the gadget, keeping it on standby for a signal to initiate permanent deletion of information. The feature has been deemed appropriate when you have misplaced or lost your phone or when it has been stolen.
Set Up a Phone Lock
PINs and passwords are the primary levels of your phone security. When you buy a cellphone, this should be among the first things to implement. Similarly, your network providers will also have SIM card PINs or passwords that you should keep activated. That denies anyone who picks up your phone from accessing its data.
Set Face and Fingerprint Recognition
Among the new phone handset security guarantees are fingerprint and face recognition. Technological improvements make biometrics a safe way to protect your personal information on a mobile gadget. That’s because they are hard to hack compared to a four-digit PIN. However, you’ll have to activate your biometrics manually.
Avoid Sharing Your Personal Information with Anyone
One of the ways criminals get access to our gadgets is when we share our personal data, whether knowingly or unknowingly. It could be that you’re sharing some information with someone because you trust them or trust an email sent to you.
Your passwords and PINs are private and must be kept secret. Besides, sharing personal information on public platforms exposes you to cybercriminals. Also, avoid writing your PINs or passwords in easily accessible places or saving them on your phone.
Use Only Trusted Platforms to Download Apps
If you’re a fan of online games or have some apps you want to download, consider doing it from trusted platforms. For Android users, one of the most reliable online stores is Google Play. If you have an iPhone, you should use the App Store. Leveraging unreliable or unsecured platforms could expose you to malware downloads.
Keep Security Apps and Operating Systems Updated
Operating systems and security apps should be periodically updated to block any progress hackers may have made in the previous version. This ensures that your information is safe from malware and viruses. While it could be tempting to block regular updates, that would be a bad idea.
Switch Off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi After Use
While you use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect to the world, hackers can reverse the process and gain access to your phone. Turning Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off cuts the connection, deterring criminals from accessing the data on your device. Again, dismiss requests sent to you through public Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, especially by people you barely know.
Enable Data Encryption
Nowadays, many mobile phone devices come with activated encryption. However, if this is absent from your gadget, you can set it up yourself. Data encryption scrambles your information through a code that is unrecognizable to hackers. That makes it harder for criminals to access your personal information during calls or messaging.
Install Online Chat Apps with End-to-End Encryption
Besides the calls and messaging, the internet has allowed people to chat and interact online. However, hackers can access your device through communications made over some applications. For safety purposes, install online chat tools that have end-to-end encryption. Some notable online chat apps with this encryption are WhatsApp, Signal, Messenger, SafeChat, Telegram, and Element.
Uncheck the Auto-Pay Option and Log Out of Sites After Payments
When you forget to uncheck the auto-pay option, someone can gain access to the money in your account without your consent. Also, log out immediately after making your payments through a site. That ensures no one will gain access to your information, which will keep your cellphone secure.
Final Thoughts
Protecting your mobile device against cyber-attacks or information theft by people who get hold of your phone should always be your priority. While there could be more ways to maintain your phone security, the above-mentioned tips are your best choice. Try them and you’ll not regret it!
