Tips for Securing Your Mobile Phone

Tips for Securing Your Mobile Phone

Of course, the most effective way to protect your phone from malware is to take preventative steps to reduce the likelihood of contracting an infection in the first place.

Be wary of public WiFi hotspots

Do not access any sensitive information through public WiFi, such as logging into your bank or checking sensitive work emails, as a hacker may be able to intercept your communication through a "man-in-the-middle" attack. It is far more secure to use a 3G or 4G instead, or to use a VPN.

Do not jailbreak or root your device

It may sound appealing to be able to download paid apps for free by jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android, but this removes the protection from Apple and Google respectively. Proceed with caution if you do go down this route, or you may find yourself vulnerable to malicious apps.

Only download apps from the official app stores

Savvy hackers have been known to slip past the walled garden of the App Store and the security measures of Google Play Protect, but your chances of downloading a malicious app are far lower if you stick to the official app stores.

Update your operating system

Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems to gain access to outdated smartphones. Be sure to install updates to your software as soon as a new version is released, to minimize this risk.

Encrypt your device

Encrypting your phone will scramble all files so that only you have access to them. You'll need to enter a PIN or password to decrypt your phone every time you want to use it.

Review your access permissions

Often when consumers download new apps they don't take the time to read the Terms & Conditions, or consider what data they are allowing the app to access.

In some cases, it may be useful to allow an app to access your location, such as a transport or weather app. But does the app need to know your location even when you're not using it? Review your app permissions in your privacy settings, and disable any consents that don't seem essential.