How secure are the data on your mobile phone or tablet?

Even if you are not a public figure or a celebrity, having your mobile phone or tablet hacked is undoubtedly a massive invasion of privacy that can bring you many personal and financial problems.

Mobile phones are currently the primary tool for accessing information, where we browse the internet, shop for new clothes, check our bank statements, take photos, and perform other actions.

5 Privacy Tips and Tools for Mobile Devices

If someone gains access to your mobile phone and finds a way to hack your device, they can use the collected information to embarrass you, steal money, track your location, or even commit worse crimes. Fortunately, there are some actions you can take right now to keep that information private.

Secure the screen lock

This may seem trivial, but most people still don't do it. Having to enter a password every time you need to access your mobile device may seem inconvenient, but it's worth it. Without a screen lock, if you lose your phone, anyone can access your data: personal files, photos, social media accounts, and shopping apps. Does your browser remember your passwords? In that case, the person can now access any site with a saved password.

Don't entrust your privacy to anything less than a PIN or password.

Prioritize the Official App Store

Even if your phone allows the installation of programs outside the Official App Store, be very careful .

Your mobile device's Official App Store offers some protection against malware.

If you have an Android device, disable the "Unknown sources" option in the security settings to ensure that only applications from trusted sources can be installed.

Limit app access

When installing new applications, your mobile device asks you to confirm the access requirements.

Usually, apps need access to items such as files (to save items), the camera (to take photos), and perhaps GPS (to provide location-specific content). Some apps may also require access to contacts, profile information, etc.

While it's almost impossible to use a mobile device without giving apps access to some of this information, you don't necessarily have to agree to all of their terms. Many apps make money by selling your information to advertisers, so it's no surprise they want more access than they need. For example, does a flashlight app need to know your location?

If you're not comfortable with the access an app is requesting, look for an alternative that requires fewer permissions.

Set up Find My Phone and Remote Wipe

If you haven't configured these features for your mobile device, you're missing out on these security measures you can have... and it's usually free. If you lose your phone, the Find My Phone feature can help identify the exact location using the phone's GPS. Some services even allow you to call your phone if it's nearby.

If you can't immediately access the mobile device or suspect it has been stolen, you can also remotely request to wipe all private data when it finds itself online.

Remember, public networks are public

The availability of public Wi-Fi can be advantageous if you want to catch up on news and current events but use it wisely. If you plan to access your online banking or make a clothing purchase, prefer to do it from a secure network. Every time you connect to a public network, you might be openning up your mobile device to everyone else on that network. Any amateur hacker can use public Wi-Fi to spy on nearby users and access their information.

However, if you need to visit secure websites or access private data while you're out, consider using a VPN . Virtual Private Networks encrypt your activity, so nobody on the public network can track it. Many companies offer VPN services to their employees, allowing them to access the company network from anywhere.

 

In conclusion, keep the security and privacy of your mobile devices – phones or tablets – in mind. There's no way to stop using them as they are associated with more and more uses: they have become our wallets, cameras, agendas, health bulletins, travel guides, and so much more. And naturally, you wouldn't leave any of them available for anyone to access. Therefore, make sure you take all precautions with your mobile devices.