The smartphone has quickly become a staple in modern society, as users rely on them to accomplish more and more. This is why it is more important than ever to make sure you take the correct steps to secure your smartphone.
You could probably say the same of your own use of it. This means that there are not only huge amounts of smartphones and smartphone users, but there is also a huge amount of threats out there to target them.
In order to get the most utility out of your smartphone, you need to be certain that it is protected from the influence of these threats. For this week’s tip, we’ve put together a list of standards that you (and anyone else associated with your business) should uphold.
Secure Your Smartphone By Locking It
Let’s begin with a very basic security concept: a device that is locked (and requires a code to be reopened) is going to be inherently more secure than a device that doesn’t. While that should be common sense, many people still don’t use it to their advantage – despite the unlocking process becoming easier and easier for the authorized user, with options to use fingerprints and facial recognition as a means of accessing the device.
Neglecting to do so means that you are leaving your device and the data on it at the mercy of whoever happens to walk by.
Secure Your Smartphone By Capping Wireless Connectivity
Your device has plenty of ways to connect to external devices and services. The trouble is, that leaves plenty of connections that a hacker could use to infiltrate your device and data. Public Wi-Fi is notorious for being a breeding ground for threats. Meanwhile, Bluetooth and NFC communications can easily be used to steal data. Deactivate these capabilities when you aren’t actively using them.
Limit The Access Your Applications Have
We’ve all been there – trying to download an application from an approved and official source (such as Google Play). Then, the application suddenly puts up a request for access to far more data than it should need to function properly. What gives?
Here’s the thing… while the app itself may not need all the information they ask for, the developers need it if they want to sell it to advertisers or share it with social media platforms. Does that silly match-four game you downloaded really need to know who your contacts are? Or hear what you’re saying all the time? Probably not, so you can deny these apps from accessing this information in your settings. Alternatively, you could also go with the nuclear option and just delete them.
Keep It Updated
One of the primary reasons that updates are released for operating systems is to shore up any cyber security issues that have been resolved since the last time the device was used. While this really does sound simple enough to accomplish, many users neglect to update their devices in a timely manner. Thus, leaving them vulnerable.
Be Careful With Attachments and Spam in Messaging Applications
Messaging applications are very common in today’s devices, which cybercriminals have certainly noticed. This is why they use attachments in these applications to deliver their payloads to their victims. They also use spam messages in a similar way. Keeping to the best practices you use to protect your email can keep your smartphone use secure as well.
Following these tips will help you to keep your smartphone secure against threats, and by extension, your business. For more means of securing your technology, reach out to the experts at WheelHouse IT. Give us a call at (877) 771-2384 to get started.
