The data security of Mobile devices has been an overlooked threat for years. Mobile device data security is one of those underlying factors that doesn’t reflect as a concern until it becomes one, and when it becomes a concern, it creates an urgent situation that is immediately needed to be attended to.
In our smartphones, we have access to every bit of sensible information right at the tip of our fingers. Sensible pieces of information such as media files, passwords, personal data, and sometimes, our professional data as well.
Imagine a situation when you wake up in the morning and discover that your smartphone’s battery is drained (even though you remember charging it to full before retiring for the day!). You have lists of notifications cluttered in your taskbar including a few unread messages that you don’t recognize. It’s terrifying, isn’t it?
This is an exact situation of how your smartphone might act if it gets hacked. Also, in most of the smartphone’s data hacking instances, your smartphone might act normal despite it becoming bait for a hacker which is irrevocable without precautions.
Is smartphone data hacking common?
In today’s modern world, smartphones are more than just phones. The smartphone is a desktop computer, a data storage device, a GPS unit, and a sound and video recorder. It is also a data bank, a hub of the social media network, and a photo gallery, among other functions.
Isn’t that an all-in-one data storage and entertainment device we all look forward to having in our lives?
Nonetheless, the capabilities mentioned above that fit in the palms of your hand, make it an extremely attractive target for malicious cyber criminals – to extract data from your smartphones.
The majority of us would rather have every bit of information available to us on demand on one device itself. What can we do to keep our data safe, however, if we don’t want to give up this convenience?
Simple, two Words: Phone Security.
Worldwide, there are roughly 5.27 billion unique mobile users as per GSMA Intelligence’s latest statistics. We keep the data of everything vital to our daily lives as well as our professional lives on our mobile phones: personal files, photos, important banking apps, social media accounts, work files, etc. Your digital identity is at risk if someone gets their hands on your smartphone or remotely hacks it.
That is one of the reasons why smartphones are probably the favorite targets for potential hackers, but mobile phone users still tend to take their smartphone data security for granted.
In today’s world, these data hacking risks are becoming more complicated as we open our smartphones to the latest technologies, like the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.
You probably are wondering now – how can I secure my phone from potential cyber threats? Or, how can I improve my mobile data security?
Also read: Best 10 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Software Solutions
In this article, we are sharing some tips and tricks to safeguard your mobile data and ensure seamless smartphone security in 2021.
1. Keep Your OS Updated
Regular updates, be it for your operating system or an application are just as important for your smartphone as they are for your laptop or computer. Hackers can easily penetrate your smartphone if you’re using outdated software. To stay ahead of security threats, technology companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft continually release security updates.
It’s among the best ways to keep your smartphones safe from hackers. Make sure you regularly update your operating system on your smartphone. This will ensure you have the latest security configurations.
2. Cloud Security and Data Back-up
Keeping backups is one of the most critical smartphone data security tips. Your smartphone data can be protected more effectively by backing it up to a cloud or physical hard drive. Acronis True Image, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive Personal, etc. all provide cloud-based backup software.
A copy of your data can be saved as a backup in the cloud for maximum protection. In the event that your smartphone’s data is compromised, hacked or your smartphone itself is stolen, you can always wipe away the data remotely and retrieve it from the cloud. A cloud-to-cloud backup solution is a good method of protecting your data and backing it up for a fairly modest monthly fee.
3. Be aware of Public WIFI
It is almost impossible for anyone to resist free WiFi. But if you intend to safeguard the data on your smartphone, you need to learn to refuse it. The security of your smartphone may be compromised when you use public WiFi or hotspots. You increase your exposure to malware and hackers whenever you connect to a public wifi network.
With numerous online videos and easily obtainable tools available on the internet, even a novice hacker can intercept traffic flowing over Wi-Fi, allowing them to access valuable private information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, and other personal information. While we are wholly aware that connecting to public Wi-Fi poses a major security vulnerability, most of us still choose to ignore them.
4. Create multiple user accounts
If you use an Android device, you can safeguard your smartphone data by creating multiple users – it is one of the most attractive features of Android devices. The feature of creating multiple user accounts lets you share your Android device with your friends, family, or sometimes even strangers whenever needed without the worry of other users intruding on your device’s privacy. Each user account will have its own settings, apps, screen, and log-in account.
Also read: What Are The Pros and Cons of VPNs?
5. Browse net in safe mode or use a VPN
An infected or malicious website is usually the source of most viruses and malware that enters your smartphone and can compromise your smartphone’s data. You can safeguard it and can also access net banking on your smartphone using the safe browsing mode, which is available on many smartphones and browsers like Google Chrome.
Especially if you have sensitive data on your smartphone such as your work data, you might want to install a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your smartphone. A VPN will secure your online browsing and prevent hackers from gaining access to your private or professional information.
Prevention is better than cure…
Keeping your smartphone safe from malicious viruses and malware attacks is as simple as being cautious when you install unknown software or visit any random website. In the event, if your smartphone is hacked or compromised, you should also keep calm, as rushing will only impair your decision-making abilities.
Using a laptop or computer, you can remotely access your mobile data and lock or encrypt your files. In the worst-case scenario, all of your data can be remotely erased. Likewise, just to assuage the risk of burglars breaking into your home, you follow the best security protocol, you can utilize the precautions shared above to safeguard the data present on your smartphones.
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