Smartphone Safety: Protecting Your Valuable Information

The increased availability of smartphones for daily activities such as emailing, banking, web browsing, shopping, bill tracking, social networking, file storage and entertainment gives your mobile device the ability to know everything about you. Your smartphone’s knowledge, if not protected, is a potential risk to your security and privacy. The personal information stored and transmitted through the device is highly desired for use by identity thieves. This fact sheet focuses on smartphone safety and what you can do to protect your valuable information.

PASSWORD PROTECTION

Always put a password on your phone as well as ensure you have a password to download any apps on your phone. Make sure your passwords are strong and unique. Use your phone’s fingerprint and/or facial recognition software as an extra layer of security. For the ultimate smartphone safety, do not have the phone memorize your account usernames and passwords. Manually enter them each time you need to access your phone or an app.

APPS

Most apps require access to your personal information and data on your smartphone. This access may allow the app to control, change or modify information on your phone. Apps can access a wide range of information from your device including your:

  • location
  • microphone
  • camera
  • messages
  • other apps
  • device set up/preference

Familiarize yourself with what the app really needs in order to run. If you feel it requires more than it really should, reconsider installing it.

Read reviews and ratings of applications and only download applications you trust. Sometimes criminals create apps designed to look like a trusted app to trick users into downloading it and supplying information. When in doubt contact the company that owns the app you want to download and ask for a direct link to access.

As time-consuming as it may be, take the time to log out of your apps. At the very least, log out of apps that allow you to automatically access accounts that may have your personal information. Anyone who gains access to your phone will have access to your apps. The effect of someone having access to your apps might be an incentive to keep it signed off.

UPDATES

App updates and phone software updates are important because they provide solutions to previous problems, such as newly discovered vulnerabilities that can be exploited by a hacker, or bugs in the device’s operating system or app installation.

WI-FI

Many smartphone users look for Wi-Fi networks to avoid using data. Never connect to a network you cannot trust or verify and be wary of the information you send over public connections. Read our information on the Dangers of Wi-Fi.

VIRUSES AND MALWARE

A smartphone is susceptible to viruses and malware similar to a laptop or desktop computer. Do not download any content from unknown sources, whether through a link in a text or an email, or an app, to minimize the risk of unknowingly introducing content that will install malware on your device.

SIGNS OF A HACKED SMARTPHONE

When a device has been hacked, or malware has been installed, it will be difficult for the user to tell. Unless an anti-virus program has been installed to alert users to the presence of malware, there is no notification that a smartphone has been compromised. There are a few indications that may mean that malware is present:

  • Slowed performance
  • Random actions
  • Unknown emails or phone calls
  • Apps added without your consent

If you suspect your device is being accessed without your permission, consider resetting the phone back to its original factory settings or potentially disposing of the device and getting a new one. Contact your smartphone provider to see what options you may have available to you.

DISPOSING OF SMARTPHONES

When disposing of your smartphone, wipe all information from the phone’s memory and restore the factory settings. If possible, the SIM card should be destroyed unless it is being transferred to another device. If you are not disposing of your smartphone because of malicious behavior, create a backup of the information on your phone so it is not lost and can potentially be transferred to your new phone.

If you are looking for direct assistance and a personalized plan regarding smartphone safety, call an expert advisor for no-cost at 888.400.5530 or LiveChat with us.

This information should not be used in lieu of legal advice. Any requests to reproduce this material, other than by individual victims for their own use, should be directed to [email protected].

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