Your cellphone provides convenient access to your email, social media, bank accounts, and more. Unfortunately, it can potentially provide the same convenient access to hackers. Intellithought recommends following these tips to help protect your information and accounts.
1. Use a Passcode
Using a passcode lock on your smart devices makes it harder for hackers to access your private info if your smartphone or tablet is lost or stolen. Some smartphone also feature security features like fingerprint scans or face scans.
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2. Log Out
Ensure you completely log out of important accounts (like banking accounts) every time you finish a session.
3. Be Cautious When Downloading Apps
Apps can contain malicious software, bugs, and viruses. Watch out for apps that ask for unnecessary “permissions”. Beware of suspicious apps that feature simulated ad interactions or display intentionally misleading layouts or buttons.
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4. Download Updates
Apps regularly come out with new updates to fix bugs, enhance features, and patch security issues. These updates are often important and can help protect you from vulnerabilities that may have existed in the old version. Additionally, many software companies stop supporting old versions of their app, so it’s necessary to keep your apps up to date to maintain access to support for those apps. You can read about app updates and download app updates in the App store on your phone. Many phones also have “auto-update” capabilities.
5. Avoid Storing Sensitive Info
Do not store things like passwords or Social Security numbers on your cell phone. If you do choose to store passwords on your phone, consider using a “password keeper,” that allows you to store sensitive info using a passcode. NEVER store passwords in an unsecured place like your general Notes app.
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6. Beware Shoulder Surfers
The most generic form of info theft is observation. Be aware of your surroundings in public – gas stations, public transportation, etc. – especially when typing sensitive info into your phone.
7. Wipe Your Phone Before Getting a New One
Whether you sell, trade, or donate your old phone, use specialized software or the manufacturer’s recommended technique to wipe your phone before you get rid of it. There are some softwares that allow you to wipe your phone remotely if it is lost or stolen.
8. Be Aware of Mobile Phishing
Avoid opening links and attachments in emails and texts from senders you don’t know. Additionally, be wary of ads coming from any source other than your security provider that claim your phone is infected. Lastly, stay away from ads asking you to click a link to claim a grand prize. These could all be examples of phishing.
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9. Stick to Secure Websites
When using the internet, check to see if your browser’s padlock/key icon is active. Another way to check website security is to look for an “s” after the “http” at the front of the website’s URL address.
10.Watch out for public WiFi
Public WiFi isn’t very secure. Avoid performing secure tasks, like banking transactions, on public networks.
If you have questions about securing your personal or business information, contact Intellithought via the form below.