A few simple measures can mean the
difference between protecting your private
data and making your life an open book in
the event that your phone falls into the
wrong hands. Ensuring that your private
data and pictures are secure is not rocket
science; here are few simple things you
should do to secure your iPhone or Android
phone.
CONFIGURE PASSWORD
PROTECTION
Setting a password on your phone is the
first line of defense so only you can access
the important data on your phone. Imagine,
if you wanted to protect your house, would
you leave the doors unlocked? Similarly,
your phone contains valuable information
you want to keep safe: contacts, calendar,
files, social network sites, passwords – if
this information falls into the wrong hands,
a password will help keep all of your
sensitive data private.
How to set your password:
Android Phone:
Depending on your type of phone, you can
select to use a pattern unlock, a personal
identification number (PIN), or an alpha-
numeric password.
Tap the menu button from the home
screen ,
Choose Settings > Security > Change
Screen Lock. (The exact phrase may vary
from phone to phone).
Once you set your security option, you can
set how quickly you want the phone to
Lock itself (immediately, one minute, two
minute five minutes).
Tap the menu button from the home
screen
Security > Lock Phone After (this exact
phrase may vary from phone to phone).
iPhone:
Click on the S ettings button from the home
screen. From Settings, select General >
Passcode Lock.
This will open the Set Passcode screen.
Enter in your 4-figure code.
You will now be at the Passcode Lock
screen. Here you can choose the timing for
the lock screen.
Using a PIN or a passcode is the simplest
way to protect your phone and it is also
very effective. Just about every modern
smartphone has some means of tracking it
in the event that it is lost or stolen. Make
sure it is configured.
USE ANTIVIRUS APPS
Antivirus apps are a method of identifying
threats to your handset. There are
hundreds of antivirus apps available for
free from the Google Play Store.
Antivirus apps for Android work in a similar
way to the antivirus software you would
find on your PC. Once installed, you can
use them to scan the files on your phone
for sneaky software you may have
inadvertently downloaded, and the antivirus
app will highlight any problems.
Unlike Windows or Mac-based antivirus
software, however, Android antivirus apps
do not automatically remove harmful
software for you – you have to do this
manually once they have been identified.
Not all virus definitions are up-to-date and
not all antivirus apps have the same
features. The good news is that they quite
often provide a lot of added features that
can be really useful, such as backup
solutions and remote wipe features.
This tip is not just for people who install
software from third-party app stores or who
side-load apps, it is for everyone. You just
never know when a piece of malware is
going to sneak into the Play store.
STOP USING FREE OPEN WI-FI
NETWORKS
These unsecured networks make it
painfully easy for hackers to steal
credentials and other data as you send it.
It is better to rather add a few extra
megabits to your monthly data usage than
have your bank login stolen.
DO NOT CLICK SUSPICIOUS LINKS IN
EMAILS OR TEXTS FROM
UNFAMILIAR SOURCES.
Don’t be fooled! They are fraudulent
messages attempting to compromise your
personal information. Opening, replying, or
clicking the links provided in these emails
poses a serious security risk to you.
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