Smartphones are treasure troves of personal information. A compromised device can lead to data breaches, identity theft, and unauthorized access to personal and financial accounts. They’re often more valuable devices than laptops to a malicious attacker.
By far, the biggest risk of somebody hacking your phone is through a phishing attack. Be cautious of unsolicited and suspicious links in emails, messages, or social media. Phishing attempts can trick you into revealing personal information or installing malware. More tips on how to protect yourself againt phishing in this article.
Public Wi-Fi networks also present threats. If you connect to a public network, consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for an added layer of security. Disable Bluetooth when not in use to prevent unauthorized pairing attempts. Disclaimer: I personally use a paid version of ProtonVPN but there are other good VPN service providers in the market such as NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN or CyberGhost.
That said, the general security practices to protect your smartphone are summarized below:
1. Use Strong Lock Screen Protection: Use a strong PIN, pattern, or biometric lock like fingerprint or facial recognition to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Keep Your Operating System and Apps Updated: Manufacturers regularly release updates to fix vulnerabilities. Keeping your phone and apps up to date closes these security gaps.
3. Download Apps from Trusted Sources: Only download apps from reputable app stores, such as Google Play Store or Apple App Store. These platforms vet apps for malicious software, reducing the risk of installing harmful software.
4. Permissions and Privacy Settings: Review and manage app permissions to ensure apps don’t access more information than necessary (your location, contacts, and other personal data).
5. Antivirus: On Android, antivirus and anti-malware apps can provide additional protection by detecting and removing malicious software. Such apps are useless on the iPhone. This is because on the iPhone, apps operate in a restricted space and cannot access data from other apps, so an antivirus app cannot scan other apps!
6. Enable Find My Device: Features like “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device” for Android can help you locate, lock, or erase your phone if it’s lost or stolen, protecting your information from falling into the wrong hands.
7. Regularly Backup Your Data: Ensure your data is backed up regularly. This way, you won’t lose everything if your phone is lost or compromised.
Your smartphone is a gateway to your digital identity; protecting it is not just about safeguarding a device but defending your digital life against potential threats.