Mobile Technology

Essential tips to keep your smartphone secure

Essential tips to keep your smartphone secure
Here are some important tips that will keep your smartphone secure, no matter which OS it runs
Here are some important tips that will keep your smartphone secure, no matter which OS it runs
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Create a lock screen password or PIN
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Create a lock screen password or PIN
Set up Find my Phone and remote wipe
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Set up Find my Phone and remote wipe
Use LastPass on your smartphone and computer
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Use LastPass on your smartphone and computer
Install an antivirus app on your smartphone
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Install an antivirus app on your smartphone
Don't allow apps from unknown sources on Android
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Don't allow apps from unknown sources on Android
Stop your browser saving passwords
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Stop your browser saving passwords
Turn off Bluetooth and NFC when not in use
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Turn off Bluetooth and NFC when not in use
Kid mode protects your children and your data
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Kid mode protects your children and your data
Android Device Manager lets you find your lost phone and remotely secure it
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Android Device Manager lets you find your lost phone and remotely secure it
Here are some important tips that will keep your smartphone secure, no matter which OS it runs
10/10
Here are some important tips that will keep your smartphone secure, no matter which OS it runs
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Your smartphone is more than a communication and entertainment device in your pocket. It's a powerful computer with tons of your personal and private data stored within, just like your home or work computer. Here are some essential tips that will help keep your smartphone and the data on it protected.

Set up a lock screen

This might seem like a "duh" tip, but it surprises me how many people I meet who don't have a lock screen enabled. Your password is the first line of defense in keeping your data secure, and is the easiest security feature to set up. Of course it's also worth noting that newer phones on the market like the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S5 have a fingerprint sensor for locking your phone.

Create a lock screen password or PIN
Create a lock screen password or PIN

No matter which phone you have, when using a PIN or password, don't use obvious things like "1234", "1111", or any easily guessable combination. Something more complex can hold off a would-be thief long enough for you to locate and remote wipe your device via the Android Device Manager, Find My iPhone service or Windows Phone sites, which leads us straight to the next tip.

Set up locate and remote wipe

All of the three major mobile operating systems have a mechanism for finding your phone that you can access from your computer. Such services have become a lot more accurate over the years, and are useful when misplacing your phone around the house or office. But these services have more powerful features too, which is important for something serious like having your phone stolen. In that case you can lock the thief out of the phone, and can even go as far as remotely wiping it clean.

Set up Find my Phone and remote wipe
Set up Find my Phone and remote wipe

To make sure the feature is turned on on iPhone, go to iCloud Settings and make sure "Find my iPhone" is turned on. On Windows Phone the feature is built-in and should be enabled by default. For Android users, it's called "Android Device Manager" and you can enable it by going to Settings > Security > Device Administrators and turn it on from there.

Android Device Manager lets you find your lost phone and remotely secure it
Android Device Manager lets you find your lost phone and remotely secure it

Use a secure password manager

Don't let your mobile browser save your passwords, because if someone were to get into your phone, it wouldn't take a long for them to gain access to your email, Amazon account, and a lot more. The first time you use the browser on your smartphone it will ask to save passwords, just tap no. If you already have your browser set to remember them, you can turn it off in the browser settings.

Stop your browser saving passwords
Stop your browser saving passwords

Instead, I recommend using a trusted third-party utility like LastPass or 1Password to beef up your password security. These services will create complex passwords and remember them for you. All you then need to remember is one master password (or use a fingerprint sensor if your device has one) to open your encrypted password vault and automatically fill them in for each as you need them.

Use LastPass on your smartphone and computer
Use LastPass on your smartphone and computer

Don't allow apps from unknown sources

While the iOS and Windows Phone are locked down to only let you use the respective platform's app store, there are third-party Android stores out there where malware dangers can lurk. Unless you know what you're doing and need to sideload an app or root your device, keep the "Unknown Sources" setting disabled in Android. This will ensure the only apps installed will be through the Google Play Store.

Don't allow apps from unknown sources on Android
Don't allow apps from unknown sources on Android

Use a security app

We're hearing a lot more about malware on Android devices lately, and even trusted apps demonstrating malicious behavior can sneak into the Google Play Store, as was the case recently with Uber. While the malware threat may not be as great as, say, with Windows, you never know what type of nefarious code might be around the corner, so it's a good idea to have a line of defense.

Install an antivirus app on your smartphone
Install an antivirus app on your smartphone

Many security apps are free for basic functions, then in-app purchases are required for advanced features. Avast Free Mobile Security or Lookout are both solid choices for Android.

Secure wireless protocols

Besides Wi-Fi, there are other wireless protocols on our phones that make connecting to devices and transferring data easy, like Bluetooth and NFC. But these also open a door for the bad guys to gain access to your device, so you should either switch these features off or put your device into "not discoverable" mode whenever you don't need it.

Turn off Bluetooth and NFC when not in use
Turn off Bluetooth and NFC when not in use

Not only does this protect your device, it also helps reduce power consumption. Also, never accept requests from unknown devices. If you need to connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, make sure to use a VPN service like Hotspot Shield. For more on using a VPN and staying private on Wi-Fi, read our article on how to stay secure on public Wi-Fi.

Set up kid mode

If you hand your phone off to your child to play a game, you don't want the little treasure to rack up your credit card with in-app purchases, or destroy your emails and other data. Kid mode creates a sandboxed section on your phone with only the apps you choose accessible for the little ones.

Kid mode protects your children and your data
Kid mode protects your children and your data

Simply put, they can only use apps you approve, and they can't access anything else on the phone. Some phones have this option built-in, but if yours doesn't, there are apps that will do the same thing, such as Zoodles for iOS and Android.

Keep data backed up

With all of the data you have on your phone, you'll definitely want to make sure you have a strong backup plan. No matter which platform you're using, each one has its own cloud storage service, such as iCloud for iOS, Google Drive for Android, or OneDrive for Windows Phone.

Even if you use a third-party service, make sure to have important photos and documents set to back up automatically. If you were to lose or break your phone, you'll have peace of mind knowing there's a backup. For more cloud storage tips, check out our look at securing your data in the cloud.

Summing Up

Smartphones are the go-to device for everything from shopping to entertainment and business for many people. As this trend continues, smartphones will increasingly become a target for cybercriminals, no matter which mobile operating system you're running. Following the steps above will allow you to keep it secure against such threats.

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