The idea of someone breaking into your phone causes almost as much fear as the possibility that they will break into your home; maybe worse. We are talking about an invasion of your privacy, a violation of your personal space. Not only does your cell phone hold many important things, it will also tell hackers which ones are the most valuable. To keep your phone and its contents away from prying eyes, you must develop a strategy to protect your information. We share some tips on how to protect your smartphone from hackers and intruders.
Update your operating system and applications
Companies are constantly updating their software, but they are not just doing it for aesthetic reasons. Many updates include bug fixes and security enhancements, which help protect your smartphone from hackers and data theft by eliminating vulnerabilities. If an update is announced for your smartphone’s operating system or any of its applications, install it as soon as possible.
Avoid Public WiFi
By now, everyone should know the dangers of using an open WiFi network. A public network in shopping malls, cafes, airports or any other public place is an ideal space for hackers. Try to use only your cell phone connection and disable the WiFi connection when you are in a public place. If that’s not possible, consider a VPN app, a utility that channels network communications through an encrypted connection. But beware: not all VPNs are of the same quality. We also suggest turning off Bluetooth, unless you use a smartwatch that requires it.
Lock your smartphone
Always enter a four or six digit passcode to access your device. They may not be very convenient, but you’ll appreciate it if you misplace it in a public place. Email, contacts, photos, and bank information could easily be exposed. Even consider a longer password, with numbers and letters. If this security mechanism bothers you, fingerprint scanning and face identification are easier and faster alternatives. Make sure apps with personal information are also locked with passwords.
Keep your mobile phone number private
Just as before you did not give your landline number to the first person who asked for it, do not automatically give your mobile phone number to any application that asks for it. The more places your number has, the more vulnerable you are to SMS hacks, scams, and even invasion of your protected 2FA accounts. Consider adding a second line to your mobile phone. Google Voice is a great way to protect your number from online criminals, as are apps like Sideline, Line2, and Hushed, which make it easy to add a second line to your mobile phone.
Don’t share your life excessively on social media
It’s okay to use your real name on social media like Facebook and Twitter, but avoid sharing “tons” of revealing information about yourself. Avoid listing cities of origin, specific addresses, specific work locations, phone numbers, last names, and other details that hackers can use to track you down. These days, Facebook allows you to hide much of the information about yourself with its privacy settings and tools, including most of your photos, friend lists, and more. Take care of yourself and streamline your feed to get rid of old and outdated information that could reveal more about you than you want. Better yet: if you can, use Facebook only on your home computer, rather than on your phone.
Travel advisories
Don’t store personal information, documents or files on your phone, and limit the number of geotagged photos on your Camera Roll. Get in the habit of keeping your phone relatively pristine , downloading images and documents to your computer, and deleting confidential emails from financial, employer, and health-related accounts.
Use two-factor authentication
This is another security measure that most do not support. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is annoying because it involves an extra step, and it’s really a pain if you forget to have your phone nearby. But like passwords, it provides an additional layer to protect your smartphone from hackers.
Use strong passwords
Everybody hates passwords. But when it comes to assigning them, don’t take half measures. Use only strong passwords that hackers won’t easily crack. They must contain 16-20 characters, with a combination of letters and numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and symbols. Brute force password crackers will be able to dismantle many, but making their task easier by using your birthday, your pet’s name or the same password for everything is a bad idea.
There are many password generators online , so you don’t necessarily have to create them yourself. Change your passwords every six months and a year, or when you learn of a data breach in your applications. And don’t answer the security questions honestly and change your answers. This makes it more difficult for hackers to figure out how to get into your phone, based on your public information available online.
Beware of spam and phishing emails
One of the easiest ways for hackers to invade your phone and access your information is through your email inbox. Phishing scams are designed to trick you into transferring access to their accounts. Avoid clicking links in promotional emails, opening suspicious attachments, or executing requested application updates via email. Do not access financial accounts through random emails, instead go to the financial institution’s website and log in with your username and password.
Use built-in device protections
They are not called “smartphones” for nothing. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can control the damage using device tracking services, such as Find My iPhone and Android‘s Find My Device, which locate your smartphone on a map and, in some cases, can automatically erase it. These services can also make your phone ring to locate it, if for example you cannot find it inside your home. You can also have it delete all information after a specified number of password attempts.
Use an antivirus application
Hackers prefer malware to steal passwords and account information. But you can fight it with a smartphone antivirus app, some of which are spinoffs from popular desktop apps like Avast , McAfee, and Panda . Variations for smartphones provide enhanced security by ensuring that the apps, PDFs, images, and other files you download are not infected with malware.
Manage permissions for apps
Check the apps on your phone to determine if they have more privileges than they need. You can grant or deny permissions, such as access to the camera, microphone, contacts, or location. Keep a record of these and revoke those that are not necessary.
On an iPhone, go to Settings> Privacy , where you will see a list of all the apps and the permissions you have granted.
On an Android phone, it will depend on each device. On a Google Pixel, it will be in Settings> Applications and notifications> Advanced> Permissions manager , while on a Samsung Galaxy you will find it in Settings> Applications> Application permissions , through the three vertical dots in the upper right.
Backup information
You should consider preparing for the worst by regularly backing up your phone to protect important documents and images in the event of loss or theft. You can review our guides on how to make a backup on Android or on your iPhone. In this way, you will be able to access those photos or files even if your equipment is lost or stolen.
Know the origin of your applications
Don’t download any old app on your phone. Although in the case of the iPhone it is limited to the Apple App Store, which reviews all the applications sold on the platform, it is easy to download applications on Android, so not all of them come from the Google Play Store. The best way to avoid malware on Android is to stick to the selection available on the Google Play Store, which is vetted by Google. Never download applications through text messages, as it is a method that hackers use to inject malware into your phone.
Stay away from public chargers
Charge your phone only in trusted USB ports, like your computer or in your car. Hackers can hack into public USB charging ports, like the ones you find at a coffee shop or airport, to steal personal information. If you are traveling, bring your adapter and your USB cable. Hackers cannot access your phone data through your USB adapter.
Goodbye jailbreak
Although jailbreaking allows iPhone owners to access applications and software that are not available on the Apple App Store, it also exposes your phone to viruses and malware. A jailbroken phone will have no warranty and Apple staff will probably not help you if it has a fault.
Bottom line
If you take positive steps to protect your smartphone from hackers and intruders, you should feel confident that you have done everything possible to protect your sensitive information. This makes it less likely that they will steal your identity, intrude on your personal life, divert your money, control your phone, and generally make your life miserable.
