7 Tricks to Secure Your Smartphone Devices

This era is all about smartphones and tablets that have become the go-to devices of the generation. However, as these devices take such an important place in the lives of the users, the cyber crooks come up with new ways to exploit their privacy and take advantage of their vulnerabilities.

Using the best antivirus software alone will not provide you the security you need. You need to up the ante and use these tricks to ensure absolute protection from being hacked.

7 Tricks to Secure Your Smartphone Devices

Avoid Jailbreaking / Rooting Your Smartphone

When you jailbreak or root your smartphone device, you are disabling the inbuilt security system which prevents your phone from being hacked. Your phone and tablets have many built in systems of safety that prevent your phone from malware.

However, when you jailbreak or root your device, you are overriding the administrative control and exposing yourself to the risk of being vulnerable.

Jailbreak is applicable to the Apple products and rooting is applicable to android based products, but they mean the same thing. To customize the device would give you fancy frills but just ask yourself if it is worth the risk.

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Use Strong Antivirus Protection

When you install reliable antivirus software on your mobile gadgets, you are protected from all the apps that are laced with malware, phishing attacks and malicious websites.

Always ensure that your mobile security software and your own operating system are up to date. You can also add an additional layer of security by using strong passwords.

Keep Your Devices Safe

While the threat of being hacked is imminent, there is another challenge that the mobile gadget owner faces, and that is the threat of their device being stolen and then sold on the black market.

You should not only keep your device near you at all times, but also protect it by using strong passwords and always have the tracking facility on, just in case it does get stolen.

Tracking apps help you locate the device and can even remotely disable it in case it gets lost or stolen. Here you can read how to track stolen iPhone/iPad. If you are Android user read this post.

Buy Apps from Authorized Stores Only

When you buy an app from the Google play or Apple App Store, these apps need to be approved and authorized by the respective companies before they are added to the stores and made available to the users to download.

The only time you are exposed to a risk is when you download it from anywhere other than the authorized store. Although android does not place any restrictions to download apps from anywhere outside of Google Play store, Apple iOS does not allow any apps to be downloaded unless they are listed on the app store.

You can only download the apps from other places if your device is Jailbroken which makes it open to the risk of being hacked. These apps may have been infected by a malware that will also transfer into your device.

Also Read : 5 Signs Proves Your Android Smartphone is Infected

Keep the Auto Lock Option On

In case your phone is stolen, the thief can easily drive up your bill by using it for international calling or text messaging. They can also use your phone to make app store purchases which will add up your bill.

This is the reason, you should always keep the auto lock feature on so that in case you lose your phone or it is stolen, the thief is not able to access your phone immediately and that will buy you enough time to either track or it reports it stolen/lost.

You can also add an extra layer of security if your phones support bio-metric or face recognition unlock feature. Enable the remote wiping of the phone so that you can delete all your sensitive data if your phone is either stolen or lost.

Beware of What You’re Paying for

Don’t just blindly pay your monthly bills. Always keep an eye on what you are being charged for. The hackers can use a malware in your mobile phone or tablet to make in store purchases that you will be billed for.

Malware that has managed to sneak into your phone can steal your credit card information to make purchases. The malware infected apps can go to great lengths to hide their activities and it will not be for a while until you detect that something is amiss.

The only time you will be made aware of being robbed is when you check your monthly statements closely.

Don’t download suspicious links

You must be particularly clear about the drive-in download that happens when you access an infected website or click the message with a download links.

These links will start installing the malware on your device and is capable of overriding the inbuilt security systems. Don’t download an app on your phone unless you are sure about its authenticity.

I hope you like these 7 tips and tricks to secure your smartphone devices.