Most of us use our smartphones for both professional and personal purposes, making them a high-value target for scammers. But have you ever thought about what might happen if your mobile device gets hacked or lost? Scary, right? In such cases, individuals may face serious risks, including identity theft, data breaches, malware infections, and more. It only takes one attempt for a scammer to steal sensitive data and personal information from an unprotected smartphone.
To avoid these risks, follow this guide. It will show you how to keep your smartphone digitally secure with 7 smart tips.
Tip 1: Use a Strong Password, PIN, or Biometrics
While no method is 100% hack-proof, using a strong password or biometrics makes it much harder for hackers to access your phone. Keep your password at least 8 characters long, containing a mix of letters and numbers.
Depending on the complexities of your password, some apps allow you to save it through the ‘remember me’ feature. But this increases the chances that your password could be stolen.
Helpful Tip: You must change your password at least every three months
Tip 2: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Don’t hesitate to use the 2FA feature. When you enable it, it will prompt you to verify your identity with another method when logging into websites or apps. This authentication is achieved through email links, text messages, or by requesting validation when logging in from a different device while already connected.
Tip 3: Avoid Public Wi-Fi Risks
When it comes to free things, everyone wants to use them, but you should be cautious while using public Wi-Fi, as most of them are not encrypted. These are the tactics used by cybercriminals to get access to your phone’s data, including all your usernames, passwords, and other personal information. A scammer could only take a moment to steal your data. Criminal cases of scammers accessing phone data through public/Free Wi-Fi have been increasing all over the world.
For protection from such crimes, use suitable apps to verify your Wi-Fi status
Note: You should always disable your Wi-Fi when not in use. This will not only protect you from the mishappenings, but also save your smartphone's battery
Tip 4: Use a VPN for Safety
If you doubt the security of your phone’s network, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It will allow you to connect with a secure network every time by shielding your browsing activities and hiding them from prying eyes. It prevents other third parties from tracking your browsing history, downloads, and online activities.
Websites without HTTPS are less secure and can be easily monitored by hackers using special tools. These sites become a way of sniffing passwords. It alerts you while accessing sites that are not secure enough.
Tip 5: Encrypt Your Smartphone
Most mobile devices feature built-in encryption that scrambles all data stored on the device. It is important for your device if you want to protect yourself from unauthorized access or identity theft.
To enable this feature, navigate to it and look for the Security or Encryption & Credentials section. Set a strong passcode or your fingerprint to encrypt it. The process may take some time, depending on how much data is stored on your device. If you have large amounts of data, you need to be more patient. If you've chosen a complex password or are struggling to remember it, jot it down somewhere else, as you will need it to log in whenever you open your smartphone.
Note: For security purposes, it is essential to have a backup of your data, as repeated incorrect password attempts by an individual or scammer may sometimes result in data loss.
Tip 6: Install an Antivirus App on Your Mobile
Avoid installing unverified apps or software on your mobile device without researching their safety first, as they may contain malicious software. Once these apps launch, they send all the data to scammers, leading to identity theft and financial theft.
To prevent these situations, install a reputable antivirus on your device. This helps you identify which apps are unsafe for you, and some applications may also block unknown callers for security purposes, ensuring your mobile device is safe. Some applications also delete cookies, which are small files that store login details and can be misused if accessed by hackers.
Tip 7: Keep Your Device Updated
Keeping your phone updated helps protect your sensitive personal information and protects you from malware, ransomware, and other malicious threats. Major devices like Android and Apple’s iOS provide frequent updates. These updates come with improved security and offer better protection against malware and spyware.
Warnings That Your Smartphone May Be Hacked
Make sure of the following considerations to confirm if your smartphone has been hacked.
- If your phone’s battery is draining too fast, it could be happening because malware is running in the background.
- High data consumption can also be a sign that someone is using your device.
- If your phone overheats even when not in use, it may be a hidden sign that background processes or malware are overworking the system.
- Finding new apps on your device that you haven’t installed is a complete red flag; you must be aware of it.
- Receiving aggressive pop-up ads, even when your browser is closed, indicates that your phone has malware or other adware.
- If your friends are receiving strange messages from you via email or a social media platform, it is a clear sign to notice.
- If your phone crashes, becomes slow, or reboots on its own, it's likely due to infected software consuming your phone’s resources.
- If your built-in security app got turned off, even if you didn’t do it, it's possible an attacker did.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to stop my phone from being hacked?
Consider these steps to stop your phone from being hacked.
- Set up a strong, unique passcode or a biometric lock to protect your smartphone from unauthorized access if your phone is lost.
- Turn on 2FA for all your accounts to add an extra layer of security.
- Encryption scrambles your data, making it unreadable without the proper key - your password.
- Keep your phone’s operating system and all your apps up to date to ensure you have the latest security patches, which fix vulnerabilities hackers could exploit.
Can hackers see my phone?
Yes, hackers can see your phone by taking control of its camera and microphone through malware or spyware, or by intercepting communications through malicious networks that mimic cell towers. Scammers trick you into clicking on corrupted links or providing personal information, and hackers can gain access to your device and accounts.
Hackers can trick your mobile carrier into transferring your mobile number to their own SIM card, allowing them to intercept 2FA and gain control of your accounts.
Does *#21 tell you if your phone is hacked?
No, dialing *#21 does not definitely tell you if your phone is hacked. It checks for and displays the start of unconditional call forwarding. If the results show that calls, data, or messages are diverted to another number, it’s a potential sign of compromise. It only checks for one specific type of tampering: call forwarding. More advanced hacking methods, such as spyware or other forms of phone tapping, cannot be detected with this code.