This is not the first article we have done about mobile phone security, and it is not likely to be the last. smartphone security is very important because these devices have several vulnerabilities despite and sometimes because of all their awesome modern features. We like to keep you, our readers, updated with the latest and greatest smart ways to protect yourself from identity theft, account hacks and so many more dangers that threaten all smartphone users.
Passwords are Always Number One
The most important security feature of your smartphone, or any other device or account, is a good password. We cannot stress this enough since your passwords are the first line of defense against any attacker who has access to your physical device. Your phone should be set to lock automatically when it sleeps and require a password every time it wakes up. You cannot have it active for long periods when you are not using it. A password is also a very important protection for all your devices and accounts in case an attacker does have enough knowledge of them to launch an attack. Accounts are set to require a password automatically when you log out, so make sure you always log out, even if you are using a personal device.
A good password is one that cannot be easily guessed or cracked by brute force, so this means a random combination of all different types of characters. It may not be easy to remember, but with a bit of effort it is really a very small sacrifice to make for your safety. And the longer you are able to make the password – most sites support at least 15 characters nowadays – the better for your security. Do not be tempted to use a pattern in place of a code because these are much easier to guess, especially because your fingers will leave a detectable trail on the screen even if you wipe it often.
VPNs Keep Attacks at Bay
When you are trying to prevent attackers from getting to your smartphone by online means, your first line of defense is to use a virtual private network. These tools use encryption, which is the protection that we all need to secure the important private and sensitive data that can be accessed through our smartphones. With a VPN, your traffic is also encrypted and sent through a sealed tunnel so that no one except you and the person you are communicating with online can read the data that you send and receive.
You don’t want just any old VPN, whichever is the easiest and cheapest (meaning free), however. You need smart protection, which does cost a little. There are several worthy VPNs which have proven themselves to be reliable and truly concerned about user security. These VPNs are not going to give up user data because they are afraid or because someone is offering them money in exchange.
Avoid Public WiFi
Using public WiFi is one of the most dangerous things you can do these days in terms of data security. These public hotspots are offered for free to anyone who wants to use them. This means that they are first of all not secured because it takes money to have proper security, and secondly open to all types of attackers who are just waiting for unsecured users to waltz past them. Your VPN will help you when you have no choice but to use an unsecured hotspot. But you must be sure that you remain connected to a secure server at all times. Make sure that your phone does not search for public WiFi wherever it is available, and always turn off your WiFi when you are done using it. The same rule applies for Bluetooth and near field communication. If you find yourself unable to stay away from hotspots, choose a VPN that cuts off your Internet access if the VPN connection unexpectedly gets cut off. This will prevent attackers from finding any holes that they can sneak in through.
Device and Software Updates
Smartphones are attacked in two main ways, through their operating systems and through the apps that we use on them. Updates are issued from manufacturers not only to give users more features but also to patch security vulnerabilities that have been discovered in the operating system. The same is true for app updates. Installing these updates as soon as they become available is very important to keep your smartphone safe from attacks.
You should of course always verify the source of an app before you install it. If it is not from a trusted source, don’t risk using it. Apps will always require you to give them permissions before you can start using them. These permissions can be very tricky and will drill holes in your smartphone security whether or not you have safeguards in place. When you allow an app to do things, it gets a free pass from all the security features that you have set up. When you get app updates, check also the additional permissions that are being requested. Some apps can be very sneaky this way, asking for dangerous permissions only after you have verified it as being safe and used it.
Antivirus and Antitheft Software
Antivirus, like passwords, is a very old and yet still very useful and effective way of ensuring smartphone safety. Antitheft software is a more recent development which has features for tracking lost devices and deleting sensitive data from them in case they are stolen. These days, some of the more popular antivirus suites include antitheft in their programs. This makes for a very neat bundle that is both very convenient to use and that works well together to avoid software clashes that can cause problems in device operations.
The principles behind antitheft software also apply for when you are trading up, selling your phone, or giving it to someone. You must be sure to reset the phone to its defaults to remove all of your personal data. You may trust the person that is going to inherit your phone with the data that is on it, but can you trust the way in which they will handle the device? They may not be very careful when using WiFi hotspots or with the apps that they download, or they may lose the phone. Your data could end up in the hands of attackers even if that person did not mean to cause you harm.