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With a shift towards all of our lives being available online via a huge web – think social media accounts, emails, banking details, work – and this web all being accessible via your phone or tablet, we have to start thinking seriously about the security implications of what that means should someone wish to gain access to it.
If you don’t prepare yourself suitably, you’re at risk not of just losing an expensive piece of security, but of leaving yourself open to loss, fraud and even blackmail. Years of computer use have taught us how to be secure with our desktops, but how do you go about keeping your phone safe?
Lock Code
It may seem obvious, but many people don’t even have a lock code. If you can’t be bothered entering a code every time you just want to open your phone, look to purchase one with a fingerprint recognition to open – this is even more secure. For those that do have a code, make sure it’s not guessable (birthdays, etc), don’t have it the same PIN as elsewhere else, consider changing it to six digits, and even changing the code every once in a while. The majority of us don’t log out from Facebook, Gmail and Netbank when we’ve finished using the apps so really the only thing standing between you and your identity being stolen is just that code!
Close Unused Apps
Following on from the above – close your apps that you’re not using, and preferably, log out. There are data processes sending and receiving data to and from your apps in the background of your phone even when you’re not using them.
Always HTTPS
When using your browser, enable HTTPS (the S stands for secure). Websites that don’t have their security certificates signed are open to attack.
Use an AntiVirus
You do it with your computer as second nature, so why not your phone? Malicious software is only going to propagate more readily on mobile devices following the downturn of computer sales, so you should protect yourself as much as possible.
Enable Remote Erase
On the off chance your phone is stolen, you’ll want to make sure the perps can’t simply go in and access all your data too. To make sure they’re not able to, check that your phone has remote erase enabled – so you can delete all your data before they get to it.
Don’t Keep a List of Passwords on it
It can be tempting to write down a list of your work logins and passwords, your internet dating password, etc, etc somewhere that’s easily accessible. You’re better off keeping them on a piece of paper in a locked drawer at home.
Encrypt Your Phone
Encrypting your phone data means the data on your phone is scrambled – and anyone coming across it needs to know your PIN to unscramble it.
Encrypt Text Messages
If you don’t want other people to read your messages, which you think are only available to sender and receiver but may be on file with your carrier(!), use an encrypted messaging app and encourage your contacts to do so too – it only works if both ends participate in the exchange. Encrypted messaging means your message cannot be intercepted by another party and re-read.
Read Terms & Conditions
All apps that you download will feature a terms and conditions list as well as detail to you what data the app is allowed to retrieve from your device. We have a tendency to just click ‘OK’, but that shouldn’t be the case. Consider that your data may be on-sold to other companies or their servers themselves may be compromised. If any of the information you gave the app access to is sensitive you may find yourself in a spot of bother.
Be Careful What You Download
Just as downloaded files on a computer can be malicious, so too can the apps you download. Sophisticated attacks have been known to occur. To protect yourself stick with the proprietary app stores (Google Play and Apple iTunes), and don’t go through other third party vendors.
