Your phone knows everything about you.
More than your mom, your best friend, your partner.
So, you definitely wouldn’t want to have it ransacked by criminals.
But be honest, how often do you think about smartphone security?
Without proper security measures in place, hackers can steal your data — from bank
details to private photos.
So, let’s take a look at six real life situations and the smartphone security measures you can
take to deal with them.
But, before we move on, don’t forget to subscribe to the NordVPN YouTube channel for
more cybersecurity tips!
So, how can your phone be hacked and what can you do about it?
First.
A lost or stolen phone.
If a criminal gets their hands on your device, the phone lock may not be enough to stop them.
Fingerprints have been stolen by super-zooming Facebook photos, and Android’s 4.4 pattern
lock can easily be bypassed with the “Forgot Pattern” feature if the hacker also has
access to your email.
What can you do?
First, use your iPhone’s Lost Mode to lock your smartphone remotely.
If you’re using an Android, activate the Lost Phone feature through your Google account.
Then, blacklist your stolen phone.
Ask your carrier to block the services to your phone.
A second way someone could hack your phone is through public Wi-Fi.
Most public hotspots are unencrypted and easy to hack.
Everyone who connects to the network might be exposing their data to strangers.
That includes your payments, social media logins, and other data traffic.
So, what security measure would work best here?
Using a VPN.
A VPN encrypts your connection, hiding your personal data from any hackers lurking on
public Wi-Fi.
NordVPN apps also have additional features that block you from accidentally visiting
malware-ridden websites, bringing your security to the next level.
This brings us to a third type of attack on your phone — phishing.
During a phishing attack, the criminal tries to trick you into clicking on a malicious
link.
It will either infect your phone or take you to a scam website that will steal your personal
information.
So, what can you do?
First, learn to spot a scam — look for spelling mistakes, small changes to a familiar URL
or sender ID, and unusual formatting.
Second, try reaching out to the sender through other means of communication to double-check
if it’s them.
Got an email?
Try giving them a call.
The fourth type of attack is spoofing.
This one is a bit similar to phishing.
During the attack, the criminal ‘spoofs’ a familiar phone number, so the call shows
up as coming from a local area code.
They will likely impersonate a legitimate business or organization, trying to trick
you into providing remote access to your phone.
So, what should you do?
First, hang up and contact the company through other means.
Never give out sensitive information like your passwords, or banking details over the
phone.
Report the call to authorities.
Number five.
Adware and spyware.
Adware is a type of aggressive marketing program or script installed onto your device without
your permission.
Not only does it bog down your phone's performance, but also often includes spyware.
This type of program tracks your location, data use, or even contact list, sending it
to advertisers.
What can you do?
Turn off location services on your smartphone and use a VPN to secure your online activities
from snoopers.
Six.
Unsecure apps.
It can be a security flaw in a legitimate app that lets hackers install backdoors.
It might also be a fake malware-ridden app that’s designed to look like the real deal.
Whatever it is, some of them manage to slip even into official app stores.
A malicious app could infect your phone, steal your data, or even render your device useless.
So, what can you do?
First, learn to spot a fake app.
Check out our video on how to do that by clicking on the link in the top-right corner of the
screen.
Always check the app’s reviews and comments.
Never download the app from an unofficial app store.
Second, keep your apps and phone software up to date.
These updates have crucial security fixes that will keep your devices safer.
So, what tips do you already use?
Have any more smartphone security advice that we missed?
Tell us in the comments below!
And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more tips and tricks!