Whether your phone is stolen, damaged, hacked or lost, it’s hugely frustrating and worrying to lose data and details, not to mention the phone itself. So it’s worth taking steps to ensure that you phone is as safe as possible from any eventuality. Here are seven great tips to help you keep your phone secure.
Install security software
When you think about keeping your laptop secure and safe from viruses, what is the first line of the defence that you consider? Security and anti-virus software is something that we take for granted on computers and laptops, but it is something that very few of us put on our phones. Many companies offer software that is designed specifically for phone security, including McAfee, Norton and countless others. While this might feel like an expense you can do without, you will find it invaluable if you ever encounter problems with viruses or malware infecting your phone.
Use a PIN
Sometimes it’s the simple things that we are most likely to forget when it comes to phone security. With all the worry about viruses and hackers, it can be easy to overlook the fact that the most common way for someone to steal data from you is to physically take your phone and view the details on there. If you don’t lock your screen you are making it easy for anyone to get into your data. Make sure you’re not a soft target for thieves and place some sort of lock on your phone – ideally through a PIN or code.
Insure it
Losing your phone is a huge pain. Whether it is stolen, broken to lost, the price of replacing it can be eye-watering. If you didn’t opt to insure your phone when you bought it or started the contract, that’s OK. There are many businesses that specialise in mobile phone insurance so shop around and find a policy that suits you.
Back up your data
Once again, it’s not just hackers and viruses that you need to worry about. Remember that if your phone gets lost or broken you can lose all of the data and information that you have on there. This can be especially problematic if you use your smart phone for work. So don’t take the risk: make sure that you back up your data as often as possible. This can ensure that losing the phone doesn’t cause you too much hassle.
Update apps and OS regularly
Hackers and viruses are most easily able to operate if you don’t update your apps and operating system. Often these updates are making it impossible for commonly used viruses to infect your phone. So don’t put off updates – sort them out as soon as possible and you’ll keep your mobile safe and secure.
Only downloaded trusted apps
You should only ever download apps through the standard channels – on Android through the Google Play store and on Apple using the App store. Every app that is distributed through these official channels is reviewed and if there are any security concerns with the apps they will be withdrawn. Downloading apps from anywhere else can leave you liable to downloading viruses or malware unwittingly.
Pay attention to app permissions
Of course just because you’re downloading them through the official store doesn’t mean that they are automatically safe and that you can let your guard down. With any app it is best to check exactly what that app wants permission to do on your phone. Use common sense: if a calculator app wants to gain access to your contact database this is something that should be viewed with suspicion.
