Cybersecurity isn’t just for your laptop or computer. In fact, as more and more people are using mobile devices for accessing the internet and activities like shopping, keeping your mobile secure and ensuring that your connection is safe has never been more important. Many people are careful to follow strong cybersecurity practices when accessing the internet from a computer but forget that their mobile phone could pose just as large a security risk, if not even larger. As phones become bigger and more frequent targets for cybercriminals, it’s important to keep these tips in mind.
Anti-Virus Software:
Don’t just download antivirus software to your computer or laptop; it’s worth getting an app on your phone too. This is especially true if you run a business and are often using your phone to complete work tasks; this could mean that along with your own data being at risk, your customers’ could be too. There are several anti-malware and anti-virus apps that you can download to your phone to add an extra layer of protection; check out https://fraudwatchinternational.com/ to find out more.
Stay Up to Date:
How often have you had a notification that your phone operating system is due to have an update, but chosen to ignore it until a later date? We’re all guilty of it, and it’s easy enough to let it go for days or even weeks before doing the update if you have manual updates switched on. However, operating system updates aren’t just important for getting the latest features from your phone; they also tend to include important security updates that are designed to protect against the latest and most sophisticated cyberattacks. Failing to keep your phone updated will put your privacy at risk, so it’s a wise idea to switch on automatic updates for your OS and all your apps.
Strong Passwords:
Leaving your phone unprotected might be convenient if you’re not worried about others getting into it, but this could pose a massive security risk if your phone is stolen or otherwise ends up in the wrong hands, particularly if you use your phone for work or running your business. Just as you would always create strong passwords when signing up for online accounts, it’s important to extend this step to protecting the device itself. Even better, if there is Face or Touch ID available to protect your phone, it’s worth using to make it harder for anybody else to access the device.
Extra Protection:
Finally, depending on the type of smartphone that you use, there are several tools available to help you protect the data on it even further. Backing up all your data to the cloud regularly is a wise idea; this means that even if your device is lost or stolen, you can still easily access everything on it from another device. If you have an iPhone, it’s worth turning on the feature that allows you to wipe the phone remotely if it ends up in the wrong hands.
Many people take cybersecurity seriously when using a laptop or computer, but not so much when using a smartphone. Phones are becoming an increasingly bigger target, so keep these tips in mind to protect yourself.