Most people know that any information that is personal and important to you is meant to be kept someplace safe and secure, and if it’s on a computer, the computer has to be well protected. What many people don’t realize is that their smart phones are essentially miniature computers – they hold and store data and information that are just as important as that stored on your computer.
But no one ever stops to think about how to keep their smart phones safe. Consumers don’t go running out buying anti-virus software for their new phone when they upgrade to a smart phone like they would a new computer. But it’s just as important, if not more so, to keep your smart phone safe as it is your computer.
Believe it or not, hackers recently have started targeting smart phones more and more, finding new and different ways to hack into your mobile device and access all of your mobile information. That’s why it’s becoming increasingly important as popularity in smart phones grows to protect the information that’s important to you, no matter the platform it is on.
Use a PIN/Lock Code
Most smart phones now have an option to password protect your interface, much like a computer does when you turn it on or log in. Take advantage of this great security feature and come up with a strong password so that only you can unlock and access the information on your phone.
Every time you open your phone, wake it up from sleep mode or turn it on, it will ask you for your PIN or lock code. This way you can insure you are the only person with access to your phone, as long as you are careful not to share your PIN with anyone.
A study shows that 54% of Americans do not set up this feature and because of which could easily fall victim to information being accessed and/or stolen. If a phone is lost, stolen or unattended, anyone can pick up an unlocked phone and have free reign over any information on it. Protect yourself and set up your PIN.
Be Careful With Wi-Fi
Almost all smart phones on the market are Wi-Fi enabled so that they aren’t always accessing the Internet or transmitting data via the 3G network. Wi-Fi on your smart phone is helpful for anyone looking to limit their data plans or save on phone bill costs.
That said, the Wi-Fi settings can pose a threat to the security of your phone. First, you should make sure that the Wi-Fi network you are joining is a secure and reliable one. Secondly, you should always make sure you turn your Wi-Fi settings off completely when you are finished using the connection.
By disabling the Wi-Fi settings you are insuring that any potential hacker who may have access to the network will not continue to have access to your phone even when you don’t think you are connected anymore.
If you want to insure your phone’s safety, just take the 10 extra seconds to go into your settings and manually turn off your Wi-Fi when you are done with it.
Be Careful With Applications
It only takes common sense to know that you should be careful of which applications you are downloading to your smart phone, but your precautions when it comes to applications should extend well beyond just “being careful.”
For starters, read the fine print. It’s easy to skip over the installation details in anticipation of getting the app downloaded and starting to use it, but pay attention to the “strings” attached with the application. Does it download any additional apps on your phone as a package? Does it require a subscription? Things like these are important to understand.
Also try to make sure you are only downloading apps from “official” places, like iTunes, for example. Don’t just search for an app online and download it from an untrusted site – you never know what additional, unwanted downloads it may come with.
Back Up Your Data
Just like with a computer, you want to make sure that any information you store on your smart phone is backed up regularly, either to your computer or to an external device. The logic here is the same as with a computer – if anything should ever happen to your phone or you were to lose any data, you want to have access to it another way.
Most modern smart phones make backing up your data easy by offering either an easy synchronization process or a cloud network to wirelessly store your information. Just make sure you know which back up system works most reliably for your phone, and perform back ups frequently.
Install Security Software
Believe it or not, there are a number of options out there in terms of security software for your smart phone. Norton, for example, offers a thorough security software similar to the one they market for computers that will help further insure the safety of your mobile information.
Security software for smart phones offer different applications than for computers, so make sure you shop for one that’s right for your smart phone platform.
With the increased attention hackers are now paying to mobile networks and mobile devices, it is becoming increasingly important to protect your mobile information, whether you think about it or not. Don’t let yourself have anything to worry about and protect your information before something goes wrong
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