In 2020, there were around 3.5 billion smartphone users, totaling about 45% of the world’s population! It’s clear that smartphones are the new portable computer, considering how convenient and useful they are.
People might think that all they need to worry about for smartphone protection is using cases and screen protectors. But it’s so much more than that. With the widespread prevalence of smartphone usage, you can bet that hackers are now targeting these mobile devices too.
If you’re wondering about smartphone protection, then you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll show you everything you need to do to keep your phone (and data!) safe.
A Good Cover
First, let’s start with physical protection. You’ll want to get a good cover, like one from Mobile Mob.
Although there are plenty of cases out there for just a few bucks, you don’t want to be cheap in this area. If you drop your smartphone, the case is what will save it!
Plus, cheap phone covers might have materials that scratch up your screen. If you opt for a pricier case that’s designed with both sturdiness and protection in mind, then it can be well worth the money you spend, as it’ll keep your smartphone safe for years to come.
A Screen Protector
Another thing you need for physical protection is a screen protector. These are usually pretty cheap and you can get them in multipacks, meaning your family members and friends can benefit from these protectors too (so long as they have the same phone model).
All you have to do is peel off the non-sticky side and then carefully place the protector onto your phone screen. This thin sheet will help protect the screen from shattering or cracking should you drop your phone or accidentally knock it on something.
Use a Screen Lock
Now that we’ve gotten the physical protection elements out of the way, now for the security ones.
Always use a screen lock. This is an auto-lock that comes up should you leave your phone alone for a short period of time, such as 30 seconds or 2 minutes.
The only way to unlock it is to put in a PIN code or password, trace a pattern on the screen, or use your fingerprint. Some recent smartphones even scan your face to unlock your phone! We highly recommend avoiding the PIN code option, as it’s a short 4-number code that’s easy to guess.
By using a screen lock, if you lose your phone, it’s harder for someone to get into it should they pick it up and decide to keep it. Or worse yet, if someone decides to steal your smartphone, it’ll also be more difficult for them to crack.
In addition to the screen lock, you should also enable the feature that automatically wipes your phone if there are 10 failed attempts to unlock the screen. If the phone’s in your possession, there’s no way you should fail 10 attempts, so this guarantees that if it’s in the wrong hands, there’s a smaller chance of someone getting into your phone.
Use Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication
To protect your smartphone from hackers, make sure you turn on two-factor or multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This means in addition to a password, you’ll need something like an additional PIN code to log into an account. And that PIN code is only good for a short period of time, so once it expires, you’ll need to generate a new one.
This can stop a lot of hackers in their tracks since the additional factors regularly require access to other accounts the hackers may not know of. Or they might require they have the phone in their hands, as in the case of a PIN code being texted to you.
Be Careful About Which Apps You Download
Many apps may seem fun and silly, especially when they’re just games to play or apps to tweak your photos. But in reality, many of these have sinister intentions.
For example, many come with the addition of malware, adware, and spyware. So be careful about which apps you download.
Only download from the official app stores on your operating system. In addition, check out which permissions are set for them. If you’re uncomfortable with any permissions, disable them immediately.
Lastly, make sure you stay on top of updates. No, these don’t just give you the latest filters on your photo editing app. They also plug up any security vulnerabilities that might’ve been found.
Keep Your Phone Updated
On that note, make sure you always keep your smartphone updated. If it alerts you about a new update, install it as soon as possible.
Again, these updates address any security vulnerabilities that might be on your phone. This can help put up a stronger barrier between you and cybercriminals.
Turn on the Remote Device Locator
You can’t really protect your smartphone from theft. All you can do is be vigilant about where it is at all times and make sure that when it’s not in your hands, it’s somewhere secure.
So you want to be prepared just in case your phone does indeed get stolen. You can help yourself out by turning on the remote device locator. Depending on the operating system you have, it’s either called Find my iPhone, Find My Phone, or Android Device Manager.
Should someone steal your smartphone, you’ll be able to see where the phone is. With most of the remote device locators, you can also wipe the device’s data.
Be Wise About Smartphone Protection
Your phone is probably your lifeline, so be wise about smartphone protection. There are unscrupulous characters out there who either want to steal your physical phone and/or the data on it.
So safeguard your phone as best as possible with our tips. While we hope your smartphone never gets lost, stolen, and/or hacked, at least now it’s harder to crack!
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