Looking at the current scenario, we can
say that mobile phones are 24*7 running machines with us which help us in payment,
personal health, work, gaming, tweeting, texting and Facebook checking. From mobile banking to navigating new places,
this small device has become a centralized source of all our information. As the
use of this device is increasing day by day, more and more people are falling
victims to the cases where the privacy of the device owner has been compromised
due to some mobile hacker or some cybercriminal.
With the increasing number of mobile
privacy hacked issues, concerns are raised over how one can keep the sensitive
information safe on mobile phones, tablets, and other smart technology. The best smartphone manufacturing companies inIndia are also raising their concerns and finding ways to protect the device
from being hacked. According to a recent Pew Internet & American Life
Project Survey 54% of iPhone owners and 56% of Android owners avoid downloading
apps due to their concerns of accessing to their personal information.
The privacy of a mobile device can be
attacked in two ways. Either someone gets physical access to it by stealing or you
carelessly drop it somewhere or it is through Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth.
Whatever way it is, once your device is in false hands, your sensitive and
private information become unsafe.
This, of course, is a matter of serious
concern for individuals as well as business owners. Therefore, most of the
people and smartphone manufacturing
companies have started taking mobile privacy as a serious issue and are opting
different ways to protect their mobile data.
Let’s take a look at few tips to keep
your phone and its wealth of personal data secure.
Set a passcode to your device: This sound quite obvious but still many
people don’t use any passcode to their mobiles. According to a consumer report
survey, 64% of people don’t use passcodes. This may be because they consider it
as a pain to unlock their device every time when using the phone. Well, whatever
they think, not using a passcode is a horrible idea. If a device is lost
without a passcode, the thief can get access to personal files, photos,
Facebook account and shopping apps. The worse will be when someone remembers
his/her password on the browser.
So, it is better to either go for a
pattern or a code. However, technically, securing your phone with a pin is better
than having a swipe pattern as it is believed that chances of decoding a swipe
pattern are much higher than a decoding a pin. When using a pin, refrain from
using your birth dates, social security number and definitely not “1234”. Go
for something different, which you can remember also.
Beware of suspicious links: It has been speculated that people tend
to click on suspicious links more on their cell phones than on their PCs. This
may be due to indecipherable screens or false security reasons. Our advice is,
don’t do it. Before clicking look carefully on the links and if they are asking
for some personal information then you must definitely skip. Clicking on these
suspicious links can get your phone hacked.
Make apps selection wisely: In the apps market, there are several
third party providers who offer new and creativae apps. However, one must always
ensure how private and secure it is. For best results, it is advisable to
always stick to trusted brands such as iTunes, Android market, Amazon. Before downloading,
check reviews thoroughly. If it is some kind of financial app, be some extra
cautious as they may ask you to enter your account information.
Enable remote wiping: This is one of the best ways to secure mobile privacy. As
the name suggests, remote wiping means wiping your data from afar. This means
if your device is lost or stolen, you can immediately erase all the data
without having the device in your hand. This just requires you to enable few
features and create an account on the cloud.
Don’t fall for open Wi-Fi networks: It is quite tempting to opt for an open
Wi-Fi network when you are at a local coffee shop or at a mall thus saving your
expensive data plan. This momentary greediness can make you fall prey to some
amateur hacker who spy on your phones. As soon as you connect to open network,
they transmit all the credit card information, password, and other important
data without you even knowing it.
First of all, it is best to avoid using
secure sites and access personal data on the public network. If it very
essential, you must consider using a VPN service i.e. Virtual Private Network.
These networks encrypt your activity so that no public network can track it.
Remember your IMEI: If you phone is lost and you remember your IMEI number (the
15 digit number written on your phone battery), it can speed up the process of
getting your phone back to you. So, you must write it down somewhere to be used
in case of any such mishappening.
Get phone back up regularly: When a phone is lost, you always regret
your personal photos, videos, music, and apps. One way to secure is that keep
the backup of your phone data regularly. This should be at least once a day or
use automatic syncing with a cloud program.
Use a security application: Make sure that you install security software
on your mobile as you do on your computer. This protects your device from
Spyware or Malware, which are becoming a formidable problem for phone users.
These viruses track your whereabouts, send your personal data and slow down
your phone. Make sure that the software is always up-to-date.
Keep mobile security and privacy always in your mind: Smartphones are becoming our cameras,
our wallets, our notebooks, and even personal safes. Thus, you will definitely
not like to leave your mobile phone lying anywhere to get picked by anybody. Make
sure that you always take care of your device when at public places.
Security risks with the mobile ones will
continue to increase with the increasing popularity and features of new smartphones.
So, protect your phone and its data by implementing these simple tips.
Good luck!
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