Experts Advice: 11 Ways to Make Your Phone Safer
- Ashish Singh
- Feb 11, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 30, 2021
As mobile phone users, we rely heavily on our use of our compact devices for both personal and work related tasks. You have probably checked your smartphone numerous times within the day for messaging your loved ones, doing online shopping, or checking out movies to stream. But have you ever really considered the dangers of using your mobile device?
Based on the study conducted by Pew Research Center, around 81% of the American population owns a cell phone. They further stated that the average number that smartphone users check their gadgets is 50 times throughout the day. Unfortunately, not everyone is following safety measures when it comes to their devices which is one of the reasons why their personal information, such as bank accounts, can be easily hacked.
Tips on How to Make Your Smartphone Safer
New and refurbished iPhones and Android devices are still open to getting hacked especially when you don’t put any effort into making them secure and safe. Many of us are not really bothered by it until the time we misplace our device or you start to see unknown transactions in your credit card. What can you do then? Well, learning how to protect your phone will give you an advantage since you will be able to secure your gadget from prying eyes. Here are a few tips on how to make this happen.
Always Update OS/iOS. The best way to protect your phone from hacking is downloading and installing the latest updates on your device. Updating your smartphone does mean not being able to use it for a while but it will save you from headaches in the long run. You see, these updates are usually to patch any holes in the system which hackers often exploit. By constantly upgrading the system, your device will be more secure.
Check Your Apps. The applications on your smartphone may look harmless, but make it a point to double check the permissions after an update. Check the settings in your device to see what these programs are allowed to access. You can always remove any permissions to set restrictions on the applications. For Android devices, it may not be easy determining this information, but it would help if you install antivirus programs on your phone to help filter your applications.
Exercise Caution when Installing Apps. It is fun to download and try various programs on your smartphone. Usually, these applications will ask permission to gain access to certain features on your device such as camera, calendar, and audio even. Keep in mind that Google doesn’t have a strict screening process for these programs so you might want to exercise caution when choosing anything from the PlayStore.
Lock and Track Your Device. If you haven’t been locking the screen of your smartphone, now is the best time to pick up the habit. This way, you can set it up so that the content of your gadget will be wiped once the wrong passcode has been typed in after a certain count. It is also a good idea to set up a “Find My Device” account to help you keep an eye on your smartphone especially when you have misplaced it or it got stolen. There have been many instances when this program has helped owners find their missing phone so you might want to take advantage of it as well.
Enhance Your Security. What else can you do to secure your new and refurbished iPhones and Android devices? Aside from choosing a passcode for your screen, you should also activate other security features such as TouchID or FaceID for added protection. Although they will not completely secure your device, since a determined hacker can find a way around these, they can still give ample protection.
Be Careful of Using Public WiFi. Another tip on how to protect your phone is avoid connecting to suspicious networks, especially when you are in public. This is especially true if you will be conducting a sensitive task such as checking your bank account since it will be vulnerable to prying eyes. If you just want to browse the internet then there is nothing wrong with using public WiF. However, if you will be doing some personal transactions, switch to your device’s data instead.
Lock Your Programs. Like it was mentioned before, a determined hacker can easily get into your smartphone and view its contents even when you have a passcode in place. What can you do then? Why not secure your apps by locking the programs with a PIN? This way, even if someone manages to get past your first security measure, they won’t be able to access sensitive information on your device. There are downloadable programs that can help with this.
Use a Smartwatch. Although this would mean an extra expense for you, it does have its uses and one of them is to ensure that your smartphone is with you at all times. If your mobile device loses its connection with your watch, the latter will send an alarm to alert you. It may be that someone has stolen your device or you forgot where you have placed it. Either way, this will give you ample time to lock your smartphone or have it ring to alert you where it could be.
Create a Different Persona. Thanks to technology, we can find plenty of information online. A skilled hacker can actually use a person’s name and details to access their bank records easily. After all, many of us put a lot of useful information online that is typically used in sensitive transactions. That said, it is a good idea to create a different persona online to prevent hackers from stealing your true identity. This can help with making your device secure as long as you don’t forget what information you have used to strengthen your phone’s security.
Skip Auto Login. It would make sense to activate the auto login feature on your smartphone to save you from having to input all of your details time and time again. Unfortunately, this also makes it easier for others to get into your accounts without too much fuss. All they have to do is to open a browser on your device and they can see your history and simply open it using the details you have made available already.
Disable Lock Screen Notifications. Another tip on how to protect your phone is to disable any notifications from appearing on your locked screen. There are times when getting notified by any activities on your smartphone works for you, but if you are in the company of others, it would be a good idea to disable it so they will not see any activity on your device. This way, you will be able to deter anyone nearby from seeing details about your email or your activities.
Are Refurbished iPhones and Android Smartphones Vulnerable?
Just like with new smartphones, refurbished devices can also be vulnerable to hacking especially when there is no security measure installed. Since the device has undergone refurbishment, it means that any security applications installed by the previous owner will be removed because the unit will be restored to its original settings. Basically, you will be starting from scratch when it comes to enhancing the security measures of your new smartphone.
Fortunately, refurbished iPhones and Android devices can be secured from unwanted individuals by following the tips mentioned above. Setting up a passcode, choosing which permissions to grant applications, as well as being careful in choosing a network to connect to are but a few examples of security measures that you can practice.
Since you will be using a refurbished unit, it would be easier for you to choose what apps to install in your smartphone. What this means is that you will be able to decide for yourself which programs to have in your device and what restrictions to put on them as well. Click here to get refurbished iPhones deals.
Advantages of Following Safety Protocols on Your Device
Reading the tips mentioned above on how to protect your new or refurbished iPhones and Android may sound like a lot of work. This is especially true when there is a new update that you will have to install. Well, going through all these complex steps may be bothersome at the start, but the end result will be that your device will be secure from intruders.
What can you get out of this, you ask?
Your smartphone will not get hacked so easily and quickly.
Your personal information will remain safe and secure.
You will have control over the applications you are using in your smartphone.
It will be difficult for other people to see the contents of your device unless they know what your passcode is.
You don’t have to worry about your accounts getting hacked.
It’s true that many of us don’t really put much effort in securing our smartphones, but it is never too late to start picking up the habit. After all, hackers are becoming quite adept in accessing information from vulnerable gadgets just like our mobile devices.
Start Securing Your Mobile Phone
New and refurbished iPhones and other devices are exposed to prying eyes especially when they are not protected well. Now is the best time to set up security measures on your phone to prevent others from accessing sensitive information that you have saved on your device. Follow the tips above to ensure that your mobile device will remain safe.
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