Mobile devices used to be safe from hackers. For example, the malware a hacker spreads on Windows devices couldn’t be used on a Samsung phone. Nowadays, however, things are different—hackers have become smarter, and more sophisticated in how they approach hacking.
No device, whether mobile or stationary, is secure. Because of this, it’s important for you to protect yourself and take any precautions necessary to keep your data safe. Fortunately, there are many ways to do so when it comes to mobile devices, 5 of which I’ll show you today.
5 Tips to Keep Your Mobile Device Safe
Many of the tips I’m about to show you are for mobile devices, but most of them can be used for any type of device!
Table of Contents
1. Encrypt Your Device’s Communication
People tend not to think about the dangers present on the Internet when browsing sites and profiles. But they’re there. The risk of your data being taken or your device being hacked is always present. But the one risk you should be worried about the most? Having your online activity monitored by corporations and hackers.
Hackers and corporations alike love monitoring user information as a way to pick up habits and personal information. This can lead to a loss of privacy, price discrimination, and more.
To minimize the chances of this happening, you can encrypt your activity and information with a VPN. A VPN can hide your IP address, encrypt the information your device sends out and takes in, and makes sure hackers and other third parties can’t monitor your information.
2. Update Your Device Regularly
We live in an age of updates, a time where we’re flooded with notifications about our devices needing to be updated. But these updates are important. You see, many of these updates bring much-needed security patches to devices, making sure they’re not as vulnerable as before.
Without updating your device(s), you’re putting your information at risk. The lack of security fixes/patches allows hackers to have easier access to your information. The solution? Update your devices.
Updating your devices only takes a few minutes, and I think a few minutes of your day in exchange for proper security is a great deal.
3. Stay Away From Sketchy/Untrusted Apps
App stores, whether we’re talking Google Play or Apple’s App Store, house thousands of apps. And while these stores vet as many apps as they can, some slip through the cracks. These apps pose a risk to users everywhere.
Downloading these apps can mean your information gets stolen, sold off, or worse, ruined your online privacy. To avoid this, all you need to do is stay away from these apps. Low-rated apps, apps not rated, and apps made by a developer you don’t know are apps you need to stay away from.
4. Use a Security Lock
Some people don’t use a security lock on their phones or tablet. These people are putting themselves at risk, whether they know it or not. Without a security lock (passcode, face recognition, fingerprint scanner, etc.), thieves and hackers will have an easier time accessing your device.
This access spells out doom for your data and security. To avoid having your information stolen, put a security lock on your devices. It takes a few seconds to set up and unlock, and your privacy will thank you.
5. Never Root/Jailbreak Your Device
Jailbreaking was all the rage back in the early 2010s. Jailbreaking, the act of rooting an iPhone in order to download disallowed apps, went away after Apple cracked down on it, but it’s returned recently.
Android also has a form of jailbreaking called “rooting”, which essentially does the same thing. Having more customizability sounds cool, but jailbreaking/rooting puts your security at risk, as the apps and services found through doing so aren’t vetted or recommended by manufacturers.
Rooting/jailbreaking puts your device at risk and opens up the way for tons of security issues, so you should refrain from even trying to jailbreak or root your phone.
Conclusion
Mobile devices used to be near-invulnerable to hackers, but times have changed. Nowadays, without proper security, your mobile device represents an “in” too many hackers.
Protecting yourself with these 5 tips will make sure your information stays safe and out of the hands of hackers.
