5 Ways to Protect Your Smartphone from Hackers Leave a comment

Smartphones are veritable gold mines of your personal information. From online banking passwords to private photographs, the little device you carry in your hands knows everything about you. These smart gadgets hold so many valuable details that they have become a popular target for thieves and hackers. Even if you keep your smartphone safe in your pockets or bag, they are still at risk even without being physically accessible. Legitimate-looking apps from unknown sources and unsecured Wi-Fi networks are some of the common tools used by hackers to infect your device with malware and steal your personal information.

If you don’t want your smartphone to become vulnerable to hackers and thieves, then here are 5 ways to make your smartphone hack-proof.

1) Keep Your Smartphone Up-To-Date

Updating your smartphone’s software is an essential step in keeping your device secured. The device manufacturers issue new operating systems and software with advanced security features and bug fixes that prevent your mobile phone’s data from getting stolen.  Updating the operating system might seem like an annoying process but it removes the security issue(s) in the previous versions of operating software.

2) Install Apps from Trusted Sources

When you install different applications in a smartphone, it asks for various permissions such as access to the camera, to view your files or record your microphone. These permissions are for legitimate uses only, but if you install apps from unidentified and unreliable sources, then it’s a threat to your cellphone’s data. Android users are at greater risk because unlike Apple’s iStore which verifies the authenticity of app sources, Google’s Play Store is not that strict in terms of verifying sources. Therefore, it’s recommended to install apps only from trusted sources.

3) Do Not Use Unknown Wi-Fi Network

An unsecured Wi-Fi connection might seem tempting to use, but it can be bait from hackers to infect your cell phone. Even if you’re using a public Wi-Fi, make sure that you don’t use it for making a purchase or accessing your online bank account. You can use a public network for web searches, news or Netflix, but don’t enter any crucial details such as your debit/credit card details or passwords. Switch to your mobile data if you want to make an online purchase.

4) Encrypt Your Data

Data encryption is a useful feature on most smartphones that allows you to keep your data protected. By enabling this feature, your device will convert your personal data into unreadable junk. This junk can be decoded only by properly unlocking it with a password or PIN. Every time you turn on your device, you’ll need the PIN or password to decode your data and get access to it. It may seem tiresome, but it’s an effective measure to safeguard your details from getting into wrong hands.

5) Install an Anti-Virus

Install a powerful anti-virus app on your smartphone for a second-line of defence apart from your device’s security features. Browsing a website and downloading content can sometimes open the doors for hackers to intercept and capture your info by sending links with viruses and malware. An anti-virus will keep your mobile browsing safe, avoid auto downloads and make you aware of which website is not safe to browse.

These measures are necessary if you don’t want a security breach on your smartphone. Be a smart user and trust only authentic sources while downloading files and applications. A small mistake can create big problems for you, both personally and financially.