How To Secure Your Smartphone From Cybercriminals
With over 2 billion individuals globally using smartphones to access the internet, hackers and cybercriminals have come up with new ways to target people through their phones. With so many phones connected, it is a field day for busy hackers, they can pick and choose their targets. They invent new schemes all the time to target people. Thus, you must take every precaution to keep your mobile device safe from cybercriminals and now is the best time to secure your phone if you want to safeguard your data. In this article, we will highlight a few ways to protect your smartphone from cyberattacks.
How to protect your smartphone from cyber criminals?
Tip 1. Only use approved app stores.
It may seem obvious, but downloading apps from unlicensed app shops is risky. Malicious applications disguise themselves as engaging or well-known games to corrupt your phone. Use legitimate app shops such as Apple’s App Store and Google Play. These marketplaces check applications for threats automatically. The same can be said for adverts online, clicking on an ad could lead to viruses on your phone.
Tip 2. Use multi-factor authentication to reduce your risk of being hacked.
This multi layered approach to data and application security requires users to log in with two or more credentials. This prevents unauthorised login to user accounts. Its objective is to lessen the risk of fraud and make cyberattacks tougher. These could be Face recognition, thumb prints, OTP and PIN Numbers.
Tip 3. Don’t Root or Jailbreaking Your Device
Jailbreaking or rooting your phone unlocks it and removes the manufacturer’s security so you can access anything. It’s risky to jailbreak or root your phone to access third-party app stores. These untrustworthy shops’ applications may compromise your phone and steal your data. Breaking this also affects the warranty on your phone and could damage the software.
Tip 4. Avoid using public charging stations
Public space concerns don’t stop with unprotected WiFi. Restaurants, airports, and libraries have common charging outlets that hackers can exploit. The term “juice jacking” is a common one for this technique. While charging, your phone’s port transfers data as you might give an attacker full access to your phone and all its data if a public charging port has been tampered with.
Tip 5. Maintain OS updates
Your operating system’s frequent upgrades improve device safety. Your smartphone needs these upgrades to repair vulnerabilities and stay ahead of hackers.
