Ten essential mobile security tips to protect your device

It is naive to believe that your mobile phone is secure from any possible cyber threat or malicious attacks. Since these devices are an integral part of our lives, they contain a huge quantity of relevant data. Hackers are also aware of this fact and that is why they are continuously looking to hack our phones.

However, there is nothing you need to worry about. You can remove phone virus or simply prevent it from making its way to your phone in the first place with a few security tips. This article will provide you with ten easy yet essential mobile security tips to protect your device from hackers and cybercriminals.

Keeping your mobile safe: Ten safety tips you must follow
There is no rocket science that you need to apply to keep your mobile phones safe from hackers. Let’s go over the few easy steps that will allow you to keep your mobile secure from various types of malware and cyber-attacks.

1. Turn off bluetooth
Using Bluetooth to connect with wireless speakers or gaming accessories can put your phone in jeopardy as hackers can target them. So, it is best to turn off the Bluetooth when you’re not using it. Also, only connect your phone’s Bluetooth to devices you know and trust.

2. Connect to secure Wi-Fi
Most public Wi-Fi networks might not have the relevant security measures to protect your information. As a result, it can put you on the radar of cyber criminals and hackers. Ideally, you should avoid using public networks. If you have to use one urgently, then make sure to use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your data.

3. Install a VPN
As mentioned before, VPNs can encrypt all the data. It creates a safe tunnel through which your data can pace. This way, the phone can shield the data from potential network eavesdropping attacks.

4. Keep your home screen locked
There is a possibility that your data gets leaked because someone stole it or you lost it. Either way, you should consider the following popular screen lock mechanisms:

Pattern
Passcode
Fingerprint
Face recognition

Also, it is best to put the shortest amount of time for the phone to stay idle before locking. Doing so will keep you safe even if you forget to lock your phone.

5. Create strong passwords
This is a no-brainer having a strong password keeps your phone safe. Keeping a simple password as your birthday year or “1, 2, 3, 4” makes you prone to greater chances of data loss. So, it is advisable to have a strong PIN or password for your phone.

6. Enforce multi-factor authentication (2FA)
Apart from just setting a strong password, you should also enable 2FA. Even if the hacker figures out your password, they would still not be able to access your data. Most mobile phones have 2FA features that you can enable easily.

7. Download trusted app stores
Apps that require downloading from sources other than the Play Store can lead to security risks, like malware installation or loss of personal data. So, you should only download apps that are available in official app stores, such as Google Play Store or App Store.

8. Review app permissions
Even if you download apps from reliable sources, you should check the permission they request. If an app requires more than the necessary permissions for its core operations, then there is a possibility of accessing personal data. You should also limit the app permissions to maintain your data privacy.

9. Install antivirus software
Antivirus programs or apps can help you identify any potential issues beforehand. Not only that, they can also remove viruses or malware from your phone before they can lead to any damage. Thus, downloading a reliable and effective antivirus app on your phone can help you with your data privacy.

10. Backup your data regularly
Last but not least, there is always a possibility of losing your critical data. Nevertheless, having a data backup can make your life a lot easier. Therefore, you should backup your data from time to time so that there are no issues down the road.

Wrapping up
There is no guarantee to be completely safe when using your mobile. Nevertheless, following the tips mentioned in this article will allow you to reduce the possibility of data breaches or malware attacks significantly. Plus, it doesn’t require a lot of time or effort for you to apply the techniques mentioned in this article.

The article Ten essential mobile security tips to protect your device first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.