Whilst the majority of people are fairly vigilant with security for their laptops and desktop computers, they’re not always so vigilant about mobile security and protecting their smartphones.
Keep your phone locked.
When enabling a lock screen, you’ll have the option to choose how long the phone can be idle before locking. So, be sure to choose the shortest amount of time. By doing so, if you were to leave your smartphone anywhere, the lock screen would have been enabled before anyone could access your stored data.
Set secure passwords.
Setting strong passwords on your apps will make it harder for a hacker to guess them. This should not come as a shock to many people but you should use different passwords for different apps. Also passwords should contain, at a minimum, a combination of letters, numbers and special characters.
Keep your device up to date.
Mobile phone operating system updates are released regularly. 99% of these updates come with improved security, patch vulnerabilities and improved performance. Installing these updates will ensure that your device is using the latest security software at all times.
Be aware of what you download.
When you’re downloading apps, be sure to download them from the official app stores and check the reviews. Apps downloaded from unofficial sources could contain viruses, malware or spyware.
Only connect to a secure WIFI.
Although free WIFI can save on mobile data usage, free WIFI connections are usually unsecured. Connecting via an unsecured WIFI could leave your device open to being accessed by an unauthorised source.
Don’t jailbreak your phone.
It may be tempting to jailbreak or root your phone to access app stores which may be unofficial, however, you are at risk of not being able to access the latest update to security on the device operating system. Some mobile phone manufacturers can block jailbroken devices from being used again. This would mean having to purchase costly new equipment.
Encrypt your phone.
Most phones have encryption settings. You can enable these easily from the settings. To check if your iOS device is encrypted, just go to the settings menu, and click on “Touch ID & Passcode”. It will prompt you to enter your lock screen and from the bottom of the page, you should be able to enable the “Data Protection” function.
Technology matters at The Unite Group. Contact us for more information on how we can help with security for your business.