The security of your smart phone is important, with sensitive information often stored on the smartphone many users are at a loss when the phone is lost, stolen or hacked into. You can however, keep your smart phone secure; listed below is a list of how tips to do so.
- The Good Old – Screensaver
Basically all new versions of smartphones offer a ‘pattern lock’ system. This way you can lock your screen with a pattern or design drawn along the dots. In order to keep this function secure, make sure to wipe your phone screen regularly as finger prints accumulated over time, will leave a trace of the pattern which anyone who has access to your phone can copy. The pin code is another option; choose one that’s difficult to decipher but easy for you to remember. For example choose the first letters from a movie, song or book you like and create a password.
Don’t forget to activate remote tracking too, a feature which helps to track and disable your phone remotely. On the Apple iPhone the feature is called ‘find my phone’ while on Android it’s known as ‘find my device’. If you like to stay updated on the best smart latest mobile phones, make sure to check those with enhanced screen lock functions; browsing an online store similar to Phonepola or any other will help you get a scope of the latest smartphone options in the market.
- The SIM Card Lock
While you can secure your phone with a screen lock, it will not prevent anyone taking the SIM card out of your phone to be used in another device. To prevent this from happening, you must enable a SIM card lock; it works by demanding a pin number when a phone is turned on and is attempting to create a link to a network. Check out mobile photography tips to learn more on this feature.
- Turn off Geo-Tagging
When photos are uploaded onto social media via your phone, in most instances Geotags or location tags too, are added to them. This enables anyone possessing software to hack into your social media accounts, to know exactly where you are where you have been. To prevent this, make sure the location tag or geotag on your smartphone is turned off; this prevents anyone you don’t want from knowing your movements.
- Make Sure your Sensitive Data is Secure
A smart phone is very similar to a mini-computer and while a screen lock will save anyone from starting your device, there is no security against anyone retrieving information by connecting the phone to a computer or by accessing the microSDcard. Hence you need to protect your sensitive data; in order to do this, you must download specific software. There is a variety of free software options to choose from, make sure to download one that’s compatible with your needs.
- Back-up Data
A very important action; make sure to always backup your smartphone data; either store it in Dropbox or OneDrive or on iCloud if you are an Apple iPhone user.
- Make Sure Your Phone is Wireless Protected
If your device is capable of sending wireless data, then the threat of it being hacked is there. Prevent this by having your wireless connection turned off when not in use, thus preventing anyone from accessing your device remotely when in range. Also, check the security on your phones network connection; some settings may cause your phone to automatically configure and connect to networks which are within range; a function which could take place without your knowledge. Do make sure your home WIFI system is password protected and while hotspotting or using a mobile wireless connection, make sure, the connection is from an authenticated source and not a malicious connection.
- Protection from Bluetooth
As Bluetooth range is very limited (10 meters) there is no great threat; however, there are instances that hackers have been known to gain access to a phone via Bluetooth in range. Turn off the Bluetooth function when not in use and choose the ‘non discoverable’ setting when off, to make sure anyone searching for devices does not discover yours. Always decline any unknown request you receive via Bluetooth to ‘pair-up’ as this is how a hacker will gain access to your device.
- Practice Safe Internet Browsing
Make sure that web browsers are secure when accessing them on your smart device; if any warning signs pop-up, take note and leave the site immediately. Try and avoid saving passwords and personal details on sites you visit, like banking apps; although this feature may be convenient, anyone who accesses your phone is privy to this sensitive information. Make sure to only access URL’s with a padlock sign on your smartphone. Stick to the ‘HTTPS’ sites and avoid ‘HTTP’ as the latter is not secure.