Data Security is the topmost priority when it comes to mobile phones, Laptops, Tablets, and many other devices. Physical forms of damage to a phone, for example, are certainly a concern, but while these only lead to operational issues and a possible need for replacement, either on one screen or the entire device, data security breaches can be situations where long-term problems occur. They are created through the loss of personal data or even possible risks of identity theft.At Repair Maniac, we are here to help with numerous areas of phone repair and protection, including assisting many customers with simple areas of data security to ensure they never face hacking or other similar risks. What are some of the basic daily areas that you can consider or improve to keep your phone and sensitive data protected at all times? Here is an introduction.
Locking, Biometrics, and Two-Factor Identification
First of all, perhaps the simplest form of data security for your phone is to keep it locked when not in use, especially in a public place.
Modern technology allows us a few options for locking phone screens depending on the phone model you have, including the following:
- Passcode: The simplest method today is the passcode, which can have four or six numbers. If this is the only option offered by your phone or the only one you have chosen, be sure to select a unique access code that is not the same as other codes you use regularly.
- Pattern: Other phones offer the option to draw any pattern to unlock the phone, which is generally more robust in terms of security than a simple password.
- Biometrics: Recently, biometric advancements such as fingerprints or facial recognition have brought a new layer of security to the phone. These can even be superimposed on a passcode or pattern entry for those who want extremely high levels of locking security.
Secure Passwords
The lock screen is not the only area where you may have set up password access on your phone. Others include application passwords or passwords that can be saved in various internet browsers when using certain websites from your phone.
No matter what the purpose here is, it is vital to make sure you use different and unique passwords for each of these areas. If you have multiple password-protected apps on your phone, for example, their passwords must be different no matter what; if they are the same, a hacker who finds a single password suddenly has access to all of his applications. This area is important for both private consumers and those who use their devices in a professional capacity.
Secure Connections and Enryption
When in any public area, it is important to know the connections involved with your phone. In particular, Wi-Fi in public places should be viewed with caution: is the network private and secure? Otherwise, you should not connect to it or use a VPN (a virtual private network) to stay protected. One way that some scammers or hackers try to enter your device is through unsecured Wi-Fi connections.
Along similar lines, those who prioritize the security of their data might consider encrypting their smartphone data. Most modern smartphones have encryption settings that you can access within their security menu; within an iPhone, for example, this can be found within the "Touch ID & Passcode" section of its settings.
For many Android models, the requirements here can be more stringent - typically your device needs to be at least 80% charged and unrooted before encrypting. But once this is done, you can encrypt all the data on your phone so that it is unrecognizable in case of loss or theft.
Updated OS
While there are several goals of any OS update
within your phone, one of the main elements here for most updates is the
security of the phone. Many of us have a habit of clicking on phone updates or
snoozing them as long as possible, but if you make data security a top issue on
your phone, you shouldn't.
Rather, you should upgrade to the newer
operating system whenever you get the chance. Many of these updates are created
directly to address recently discovered threats to Apple or Android devices,
and sadly, these new threats are regularly found as hackers invent new ways to
try to invade phones.
If you are not sure if you are up to date on
your operating system, go to general settings or "about phone" and
check the system/software updates section. Also, most modern models will notify
you regularly when you need an update; some will even force you to do it after
a certain period of time.
App Downloads
Lastly, it is important to be careful when downloading any new applications on your phone. First of all, apps should only be downloaded from the official app store that your phone uses; other sources can present various risks.
In addition, it is important to do research on the applications and check things like reviews and usage fees. A common tactic of scammers in the app world is to create an app that looks identical to a popular version, with the same logo and features, but you can detect this scam attempt through areas like reviews, latest updates, information contact details of the organization and more. Make sure you're not the victim of an app scam by being diligent here.
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