How to secure your personal data on your smartphone
The smartphone has become so important in our lives that we are totally dependent on it. We carry all our personal information in it, from bank account details to personal photos, everything is stored in this small gadget. That’s why we cannot take the risk of it getting stolen or getting hacked.
If someone gains access to your phone or discovers a way to hack it, they can exploit the information on it to shame you, take your money, track your location, or worse. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to protect that information.
Here are a few tips to protect your smartphone.
Keep it on the App Store.
Android may give you access to install other apps which are not on the App Store, but it is risky to install those apps because they may not agree with the privacy policies of the App Store and can easily access your personal data and trouble you.
Limit the information that your apps have access to.
All apps ask for permission; keep in mind whether the app requires specific permission or not. For example, many apps ask for permissions that are not required and then spy on us for relevant advertisements; however, this can be more dangerous if the app comes from a hacker.
Your operating system should be updated.
If there is any glitch in your smartphone, the smartphone company gives you an update to solve security-related issues. Always keep updated with the new version of your OS.
Do you know those obnoxious advertisements that appear on your screen informing you that an operating system update is available for download? Don't put it off any longer. These updates often include patches for security concerns detected in previous versions of the operating system, as well as bug fixes and protection against hacking.
Safeguard Your Lock Screen
Even though it appears to be common sense, the majority of people nevertheless fail to do so. It's inconvenient to have to type a password every time you want to check your phone, but it's worth it. If you lose your phone, the burglar will have access to everything on it, including your personal information, images, Facebook account, and shopping apps, if it does not have a secure lock screen. Is your browser capable of remembering your passwords? If this is the case, the thief can now log in to any website using the saved password.
Try not to save your important passwords on your browser. This will give hackers ease of access to your accounts.
Set up Find My Phone and Remote Wipe on your phone.
Smartphone companies are coming up with advanced tech day by day, and that’s why it is easy to save your personal data from hackers and thieves. If your smartphone gets stolen, you can find it by using the "find my phone" app by Google, or you can remotely wipe your data on your phone. This way, you will not get into any trouble with personal data, and if you are lucky, you can also get your stolen phone back.
Keep in mind the security and privacy of your smartphone.
You're not going to give up using your mobile device to manage your sensitive data. In fact, the more services a company adds, the more we rely on it and the more personal information we entrust it with.
Smartphones are rapidly replacing wallets, cameras, notebooks, and even personal safes. You wouldn't just leave them lying there for anyone to pick up and look through.