7 "Smart" Tips For Best Smartphone Security
It's the world of smartphones today where we sort of swear by these mobile devices. And, why not? After all, it's our smartphones that helps us with our urgent mails, anytime calls on the go, our constant group chats with buddies, the favorite tunes, the random selfies and of course with the apps that take care of almost every need, from gaming to food to travel. They have almost become our mini computers, loaded with vital and even sensitive information, to some extent. Now what if such sensitive information goes to other's hands? It's quite possible as 34% of smartphone users don't do anything to secure these devices which are no doubt simply dangerous as hackers are always eagerly waiting to pound on the smartphone data.
It's better to be safe than sorry- here are top 7 tips to ensure best possible smartphone security.
- Set passwords
This is the simplest yet most fundamental way to ensure your smartphone security. You have prying eyes all over trying to get more than a sneak peek into your phone and your smartphone password would be your first line of defense here. Arm up your password with alpha-numeric random codes and special characters. Make sure it does not bear any resemblance to your name, birthday, office or family members. You should also change the password once in 2 months for better security.
- Log out after transaction
If you use your smartphone for online financial transactions, you should remember to log out after the dealings. Besides, never make such transactions while on public Wi-Fi.
- Anti-virus software
My teen brother was excited to have his new iPhone last week and he told me how strictly Apple controls its App Store to eliminate risks of malicious apps. But such a facility is not provided with other smartphones and hence I have taken to anti virus software for my Android device.
- Vault apps
Yes, you will set password for your entire smartphone but don't you think you would need an extra protection layer for your most sensitive files in the device? Well, there are vault apps to help you here as they are designed to store all your confidential files safely within some dedicated region in your smartphone or the SD card.
- Recovery apps could be handy
Do you often misplace your smartphone? A stolen or lost mobile phone could mean serious threat to your personal data inside the device and hence you have to be real fast with the recovery here. The good news is there are recovery apps today which can help you to track your smartphone & will also trace its present GPS location. It works for both iOS and Android devices.
- No public Wi-Fi without password
This is one of the most important tips for smartphone security. It's a bliss when we get free Wi-Fi in public places but do not access any such facility unless its password protected. The password presence stresses that the connection is secured from hackers.
- Update software
You should always make sure to get updated versions of the software systems in your phone. It's because the newer versions are updated fixing the security bugs in the previous versions and would mean good security for your smartphone.
Finally, I would like to mention that nothing beats firm handling for your smartphone to ensure a primary level of security. Always keep the phone secured under a tight case to eliminate risks of sudden drops or loss of phone. Do not take out the phone while on public transport and always keep it secured inside your bag. Also, avoid texting or calling while walking on streets. Be "smart", literally.