Categories: General

How to Ensure Maximum Security on Your Smartphone

Estimates project the number of smartphone users to increase to well over 2.5 billion people by 2020. Unfortunately, this likely means that more and more cybercriminals will focus their energies on how to take advantage of any vulnerabilities.

Furthering the paranoia around mobile technology vulnerabilities, well-respected Kaspersky has released its annual security bulletin naming high-end mobile malware as one of the most pervasive digital threats moving forward.

Hackers and other digital criminals tend to stay ahead of the curve with their tactics and sophisticated ideas for data theft. However, there is some hope for those looking at their mobile devices and wondering if they will be the next to be compromised.

Some simple downloadable security tools like mobile antivirus combined with some of the best practices can go a long way toward thwarting any future attacks on your device. Find some time to install the suggested apps such as Fleetsmith and begin practicing the following behaviors to decrease your odds of being the next victim of mobile cybercrime.

1. Lock Your Device

This advice is as old as mobile phones have featured passcodes. It continues to be disregarded in the same way the advice about unique account passwords. The simple step of locking your device with an automatic timeframe can make a world of difference from a security perspective.

Gone are the days of remembering a four-, or more, digit passcode to obtain entry to your device. Many iOS and Android devices feature thumbprint and facial recognition making this step even easier to accomplish. However, if your device locks after a specified timeframe, it would be best to require a PIN to unlock it.

2. Update Your Device

Skipping operating system updates is asking for trouble. The vast majority of these updates include patches for a variety of issues, including security vulnerabilities.

Most mobile devices feature settings that allow the device to download updates at night while being charged. Enable this to ensure your iPhone or Android gets the updates it needs to maintain its integrity.

3. Download Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware Apps

Many people assume that these security programs are only for computers. Malware, as Kaspersky suggests, is becoming one of the greatest mobile security threats out there.

iOS is known for its relative security, but Android has taken some hits lately regarding the prevalence of malware-infected apps in its Google Play store. Downloading an app specifically designed to detect these types of infiltrations can help to avoid bigger problems down the road.

While using an antivirus or an anti-malware app helps to prevent these types of digital attacks, it is also imperative that you only download and install apps from reputable sources. Stick with your device’s app store or at least with a website associated with the app. Downloading apps to your phone from third-party app sites is a recipe for disaster.

4. Avoid Jailbreaking or Rooting Your Device

The temptation to perform these destabilizing tasks is strong for those who are tired of being restricted by the device’s platform. While it can be frustrating that Android limits your access to certain apps, it is in your best interest.

Altering mobile devices makes them infinitely more vulnerable to attacks by enabling malware to access device in cases it typically would not be able to. By removing the limitations on downloads, you are \inviting problems into your mobile device.

5. Download a VPN

Including a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in your security package has become a no-brainer. With the ever-present dangers lurking on public WiFi and the ISPs’ ability to watch your every move, encrypting your data and internet browsing history has become essential.

A VPN can ensure that you are not vulnerable to the variety of attacks available to hackers when stalking public WiFi networks. It can also be beneficial for avoiding the frustrating geographic restrictions imposed by streaming content providers. A VPN can also help to improve internet speeds which you can test on speed check.

Download a VPN that allows you to choose your server from a selection of locations around the world. This will allow you to finally catch up on that show that is only available in the UK.

Conclusion

While it seems like a headline about cybersecurity is featured in the news each day, there are simple ways to prevent your device from falling prey to cybercrime.

Being intentional about protecting your device is key to your digital safety. Use strong passwords, download security apps, and install a VPN to feel confident that your device is less vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Header image provided by Shutterstock.com.

Contributor

Group of writers at Alvinology.com.

View Comments

  • Imagine you are a globe-trotting entrepreneur, a master of trade winds both maritime and digital. Your vessel? A fleet of virtual numbers ready to hoist the sails for brisk encounters with waves of verification, or to endure the longer voyages of continuous use for up to 1.5 months. Chart your course through over 700 bustling ports of online services, where each number in your constellation of codes grants you safe harbor. With navigation charts etched in the numeric codes of 200 countries, no territory in our cyber seascape is beyond your reach. But what of those moments when messages are swallowed by the digital Kraken, never to breach the surface of your inbox? Fear not—for in such cases, your treasure trove is safeguarded, the coin returned, no questions asked. The assurance of this restitution enables the fearless exploration of unknown territories. So affix your eye to the telescope and gaze towards the horizon, knowing that your privacy sails beside you, a silent, stalwart first mate. Chart a new destiny at https://sms-activate.org/en/service/google and let the winds of the internet fill your sails with the breath of anonymity and adventure.

Recent Posts

The Brand New Heavies Announce ‘Brother Sister 30’ Tour in Singapore

The Brand New Heavies, the trailblazing legends of funk and acid jazz, are bringing their…

2 hours ago

Resorts World Sentosa Breaks Record with Singapore’s Longest Stollen, Spreading Festive Cheer to Communities

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has added a sweet new milestone to Singapore’s festive celebrations, crafting…

5 hours ago

Zhang Yuan’s 2025 “White” Tour in Singapore: A Soulful Musical Odyssey

Zhang Yuan is bringing his 2025 “White” Tour to Singapore for the very first time.…

7 hours ago

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with GODIVA’s 2025 Chinese New Year Collection

This Chinese New Year, GODIVA, the world-renowned Belgian chocolatier, invites you to glide into prosperity…

9 hours ago

[Review] Yummy Christmas Menu at a Japanese Handroll Bar- Toku Nori @ Telok Ayer

This Christmas, Toku Nori invited me, my father, and my grandmother to try their new…

17 hours ago