One of the biggest issues associated with a dramatic increase in smartphone use as a preferred option is the fact that it can leave you exposed to any number of mobile security breaches.
A company offering cyber security in Brisbane, for instance, will quickly inform you that mobile malware activity has risen in line with increased smartphone use, which is why you need to use some essential security tools in order to try and stay safe.
Use The Tools at Your Disposal
It makes a lot of sense to take advantage of the security features that have been built into your smartphone.
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A good example would be the fingerprint unlock option that is commonly offered across a range of different makes and models. Put simply, if your phone falls into the wrong hands it will make life a lot harder for a cybercriminal to access your data.
You must aim to use fingerprint or password protection as a first line of defense.
Also, a good tip would be to adjust the password lock time to no more than 30 seconds so that you are protecting almost as soon as you stop using your smartphone.
A chance to wipe your data if you need to
If you suspect or know that your smartphone has been compromised you want to have the option of wiping your data remotely so that criminals don’t get an opportunity to access or use it.
Set up a remote wipe option. This is useful for not just wiping data remotely in an emergency but it also gives you a useful option of pinpointing your phone’s location.
Always use the encryption option
Check your phone’s settings to see if encryption is ticked as a default option.
If this is not the case already, make sure you change the setting immediately. This will then mean that everything from emails to banking apps will enjoy an extra layer of protection in your attempt to keep your data out of the wrong hands.
Back up data regularly
It might be obvious, but it is too late to wish you had backed up your data more recently when you discover security has been breached or your phone has been stolen.
Cloud-based backup with encryption options is readily available and often inexpensive. Syncing your data automatically and reviewing your backup data regularly will help you to get back on track as quickly as possible after a security breach.
Be careful with apps
Many smartphone users have loads of different apps on their devices and this presents a potential security problem.
Downloading third-party apps could result in malicious malware being introduced to your smartphone. Aim to only download apps from a trusted source and read reviews before you choose to install them on your device.
It would also be a good idea to download some suitable anti-malware for your smartphone as this could help prevent infection if you inadvertently download something bad.
Using these essential security tools should help you to protect your personal data and make it harder to be targeted by scammers.
