Nowadays, hackers are no longer just trying to hack computers, but they are also targeting smartphones. Actually, it is a fact that any device that can connect to the internet is a target for cybercriminals who are trying to get your personal information at any cost.
Our smart devices contain all kinds of information, from personal data, and photographs, to our bank and work details. That’s why here we will show you how to protect your device from hackers with the following essential tips.
Check these tips so that you can protect your devices from being hacked:
1. Use Strong Authentication Protection:
Strong protection is always the first line of defense. Depending on the manufacturer, most devices have different methods to lock them. You can use patterns, pins, biometric blocks, or even facial identification. The best is multi-factor and two-factor authentication, which apply more than two of these methods.
2. Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi:
When you connect your devices to free WiFi, the cost is losing your personal data. It is necessary to avoid these points since we do not know who could be on the other side spying on our online activity.
Hackers use these open networks to steal sensitive information and it is often the playground where they look for their victims. Using a VPN can help protect your information from being spied on, but only use public WiFi through it if you absolutely need to.
3. Restrict Installation From Untrusted Sources:
Mobile apps access all kinds of information on our devices. That’s why you should always install them from trusted sources like the App Store or Google Play. You can even limit the permissions of trusted apps, so you can control much more than just the information you share with them.
4. Always Backup Your Data:
If in the worst case your device is hacked or stolen, you can recover your data if you have a backup. Backup copies, in addition to facilitating data recovery, also allow you to delete data remotely if your smartphone has been stolen, without it hurting to lose the information.
5. Lock And Wipe Your Data Remotely:
As we mentioned earlier, you can remotely wipe your data to prevent a hacker or thief from accessing your personal information. There are services like Find My iPhone or Find My Device, which allow you to do this easily.
6. Update The Operating System And Apps Regularly:
A vulnerable application or operating system is enough to hack your device. That is why you should regularly install the updates that you are reminded about. These updates fix privacy and security bugs, while also protecting you against new viruses and malware that have come out.
Having an antivirus application installed on your phone, tablet, or PC is a good idea, as it will be able to scan your device from time to time (at least once a month is recommended) and it will tell you if there are any dangerous files or apps running on your phone.
A good antivirus system will then explain what you should do to remove the threat and what symptoms you should look for next time. Make sure you download an antivirus system from a reputable source such as the developer’s official website.
7. Don’t Use Public Usb Chargers Or Cables:
Believe it or not, USB cables can be manipulated to extract information from your smartphone. This is why you should avoid using public chargers that can transfer your personal data. To charge your device on the go, it’s best to use a personal wireless charger, it’s much safer and cheaper.
8. Install Security Software:
You should always have various security software to protect your digital data. From antivirus and antispyware to VPN, keeping a couple of these installed from a genuine source will be a good idea to safeguard your information.
Online you can find a lot of complete reviews of the ideal antivirus to install on your devices and avoid all kinds of malware. Also, remember to check which VPN you install, the free ones have more limited and less precise features to protect your privacy.
Smartphone apps are very advanced, looking for suspicious activity linked to your data and regular apps, scanning for dangerous files and deleting them, verifying downloaded content, and much more.
9. Beware Of Suspicious Emails And Links:
If you receive a suspicious email, never download files that come with attachments, nor click on links that they contain, these can damage your device. In addition to this, keep in mind that although opening the email does not release the malware unless you download it, it can send information from your device to the attacker. So, avoid opening unsolicited emails.
Before you go downloading new apps in a hurry, check the reviews left by other users, as some app developers are lazy when it comes to checking all the security features of their new apps due to the deadlines stipulated by the market. Spend a little time reading the reviews before clicking ‘download’.
We also recommend using Nuwber. This site provides accurate data on unknown persons so you can verify if the sender is genuine or not.
10. Use Privacy Filters:
Finally, also remember that social networks put at your disposal a whole series of privacy filters designed to establish barriers with respect to who can see your content on each one of them.
In some cases, these filters are not completely effective, but in other cases they can be used to share some things with your family and close friends, minimizing the risk of them falling into the hands of strangers.
Privacy filters allow you to limit access to your Instagram or Facebook so that they are only visible to people you trust, and they are especially recommended for teenagers who are just starting out on the internet and who are not yet aware of how much threat networks can pose. In addition, make sure to explain it to your sons and daughters and help them post sensible content.
11. Never Leave Your Device Unattended:
Although most hacks are done remotely, the easiest way to gain access to your personal data is by physically accessing it. Leaving your device everywhere or in a public place makes it tempting for anyone, not just hackers, to find an opportunity to attack you.
Therefore, whenever you are not using it, keep it in a safe place or close to you. Also, remember to protect it with a biometric lock or two-step authentication for added security.
