Tips to secure your smartphone

Secure with Password

One of the most basic security tips, Having no access protection at all is just foolish. Swipe patterns are ok, but greasy finger-trails could reveal too much.A four-digit PIN is an improvement but using a strong passcode is the ideal phone protection.

Autolock

If you set up password-protection on your phone but then leave it unlocked on your desk for 15 minutes, you won’t have achieved very much. Most smartphones allow you to set them up to automatically lock themselves after a period of inactivity.Make sure you choose the shortest timeout you are comfortable with.

Security software for smartphones

Your smartphone is a computing device and should be protected accordingly. Look for an Security apps that includes malware prevention, remote data wipe, privacy review of apps and an automatic security advisor to alert you to potential risks when you change a device setting.

Download apps from approved sources

The Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store take security pretty seriously. They are very careful about what apps they make available and will withdraw apps that raise concerns after release.

Check apps’ permissions

Many apps require more than the basic default permissions. For instance, you can reasonably expect an SMS app to send and receive text messages just as a mapping app will request your GPS location.

Update OS patches Regularly

Updates to your OS often include system vulnerability patches, so it’s important to install them.

Be careful the links you receive via email or text message

Now you can pick up email on your phone, exercise caution when clicking on links. And phishing scams are not limited to email – a text message can incite you to click on a dodgy link or ask for personal information.Even simply replying to unknown SMS or email senders can raise the crooks’ interest in you, leading to more pressure to respond.

Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connection

One of the great things about modern mobile phones is their ability to connect to the internet in many ways, but continually probing for wireless networks gives away information about your identity and location, and blindly connecting to unencrypted access points can let your phone leak all sorts of useful things for malicious actors to intercept and act upon.

Turn off Bluetooth

Bluetooth and NFC (near field communication) are great in terms of connectivity, allowing you to use accessories such as wireless keyboards and headsets or make payments with a wave of your smartphone.

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