Tips For Mobile Security
As we grow ever more attached to our mobile devices, be they tablets or phones, we should also have a greater concern regarding safety, especially as now work and social lives tend to intermingle, with many using their mobile phones for work purposes. Here is a series of tips for keeping your mobile world secure.
1) Choose a mobile operating system which uses encryption
Apple’s own iOS is a prime example of a handset which uses hardware-based encryption to secure the data of its users. This also applies to the cloud storage options that Apple offer. This protects your data to even the most advanced of hackers. This is in direct contrast to Android devices where full encryption is sketchy and not as assured. Android’s operating system and its technology are relatively easy to access and therefore digital security is not definite without taking steps. Depending on your phone it is worth discussing with your handset provider to ensure you have the maximum level of security.
2) Always use a password or pin
There are very few of us who haven’t fallen victim to a friend at a party taking errant selfies, which have only been noticed the next day. Or even a cheeky social media update that you weren’t aware of. As funny as this may seem at the time, someone interested in your personal data could just as easily gain access to your phone, and you wouldn’t even know it had been done. This is why it is essential to use the security features included with your phone, especially the advanced biometric systems.
3) Use the auto wipe feature of your device
Many devices use a mechanism whereby if your pin is entered a certain number of times incorrectly it will wipe the data. This is a massively useful feature. Should you use cloud storage, it would mean that while your handset or device would be completely erased, all your data would still be safely nestled online waiting for you to connect to it.
4) Only install apps from trusted sources
With iOS applications there is a robust licensing procedure which means, on the whole, it is easy to trace where an application has come from. Apple also have an approval process which an app must pass to be allowed onto its marketplace. This does not by any stretch mean that it is the perfect system though. iOS apps can be distributed in a beta format by email link, and these are packages which have not been vetted or scrutinised. Be sure you know where the app comes from, and who the author is.
The Android marketplace is considerably more open and requires caution. In principle, anyone can submit an app directly onto the app store with very little key signing and as such there is a greater problem with viruses and malware on these handsets. If in doubt, research the developer and use better known apps for your needs.
5) Always update the software when prompted
Often software updates for mobile devices aren’t just to improve performance and speed. If a security flaw is identified, the OS developers will want to quickly patch the weak point and so it is essential to update as many times as you are advised to.
6) Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and location services when not in use
Criminals and identity thieves can access your details relatively easily if you are sharing a Wi-Fi network. Minimise this risk by not only using a VPN (virtual private network), but also turning the Wi-Fi connectivity off when it’s not required.
Location services, while not as dangerous, can nevertheless allow someone to build up a pattern of your routine and movements. These details are often used to push adverts to you, so always turn off the location services.
Bluetooth is one of the easiest methods to access your device, by virtue of the fact it is what the technology was designed for. It is essential to use this only when necessary to ensure you are completely secure.
Of course there are many more things that you can do to keep yourself safe and secure with your device, but just taking these steps will make it considerably more difficult for your data to be intercepted. Remember, criminals do it because they can, and because it is often made easy for them.
