Introduction
Smartphones’ privacy and security are as essential as the smartphone itself. Thanks to technology and innovations, smartphones are becoming smarter every day, while privacy crashers are also increasing daily. We store much information on our phones, be it PINs, bank account details, passwords, or passcodes, which can be too risky when leaked or used. Sometimes, even the most minor data, like addresses and birthdates, are information when leaked, which can be harmful at some point. Infact, A.P. Forensic Science Laboratory (APFSL)’s Joint Director D. Venkateswarlu said ‘About 70% of cyber frauds happen through through mobile phones, and the usage of phones in crimes is rising by the day’ said
Importance of Smartphones
Can you imagine your life without a smartphone? Is it unthinkable?
Owning a smartphone has made life easy and organized. The evolution of smartphones is no longer limited to just calling or texting; this little handy device gives you instant access to many apps, such as email, video conferencing, and personal or group photo sharing.
Advantages of Smartphones
- Communication: You can connect with people through calling, texting, video calling, and social media.
- Banking: Pay bills, receive money, check bank balances, and move money from one account to another through a smartphone.
- Entertainment: You can watch movies and OTT’s, listen to music, play games, and read online books or articles.
- Health and wellness: You can track and record your health and wellness metrics. Some smartphones can also detect crashes and alert emergency services.
- Navigation: Smartphones have apps which can navigate easily, guiding you to your destination and providing better options. .
- Shopping: Life has become easy when you can browse and shop from the comfort of your home using a handy device.
- Learning: You can access online degree programs and learn about the curriculum on a smartphone
- Travel: Making life more manageable when you can access boarding passes and check in and out of hotels through a Smartphone.
- Photographs: Through Smartphones, you can take better-quality pictures instantly.
Smartphones are for our convenience, and thus, it is essential to keep them secure and safe. In this article, we will learn a few tips to enhance smartphone privacy.
Tips for Enhancing Privacy on Smartphones
1. Screen lock
The first and foremost step to be taken for your smartphone. It’s like a door to your home; securing your smartphone with a screen lock is essential. It is considered the first step to the person’s safety and a barrier against unauthorized access. Use an intelligent password and unique password that has letters, numbers, and special characters to make decryption more complex and not very obvious. Apart from passwords, set a Biometric authentication code, like fingerprints or facial recognition, to access the phone. Biometrics can be an additional layer of security for your smartphone.
2. Multi Factor authentication
Sometimes, bad luck strikes, and the screen lock and biometric fail, and the hacker might gate-crash your phone. At this stage, two-factor or multifactor authentication will take care of your digital device. This security is more important when using public devices, such as desktops in a cafe or a library, where your password could be easily compromised. The MFA acts as an additional layer of security, informs you through phone or email of a hacker’s presence, and stops them.
3. Turn off location-sharing
To access the maps, the location app is usually on, and thus, it becomes risky. Moreover, many phones have a GPS that can direct your exact location. Almost all smartphones give you the alternative of managing your location sharing in the phone settings. You can choose which apps may access your location, or you can choose to turn off the location setting altogether. This will also help increase the battery life of your phone.
4. Keep software updated
Remember to update your phone software regularly. Software updates notify you of new features and also inform you about the latest security vulnerabilities. Apple (iOS), Google, and Microsoft are vendors that provide security updates regularly to stay ahead of security vulnerabilities. Keep the operating system and installed applications current to ensure maximum protection against cyber attacks.
5. Avoid Wi-Fi in public places.
Thanks to technological innovations, there is a scope of free Wi-Fi at almost all public places like restaurants, cafes and even amusement parks. Whenever you connect to another network, it increases the risk of exposure to intruders and hackers. A hacker can intercept traffic flowing over Wi-Fi, accessing valuable information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, and other private data.
6. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use.
Bluetooth is like a hands-free device for users to connect devices like phones, computers, and other electronics without the need for cables. However, it is very easy for a novice hacker to access your information or intercept your calls through Bluetooth when it is not switched off. So be alert to log off the Bluetooth when not in use. Many smartphones has the feature to set passcodes for Bluetooth for more safety.
7. Download only from trusted sources.
When downloading an app, download it from sources you can bank on like the Play Store or the Apple App Store and don’t forget to read the reviw of other users for double saftey. This may help you identify any potential issues with the app.These are trusted sources who follow strict guidelines. They ensure that the apps are safe to use for the users.
8. Activate spam filters for messages
A spam filter protects your phone from unwanted text messages and scams. Plus, it earmarks messages from people that are not in your contacts list.
9. Activate Auto-Lock
If you lose your phone or it is left unattended for a long time, it is always safe to activate Auto-lock. It is another essential security measure that prevents unauthorized access. You can choose to instead set the device to lock automatically, if you don’t use it for a specifc period of time. Adding a password is always a smart thing to protect all the personal data the device may contain.
10. Have a password for your online phone account.
Although an intruder may not access your phone, they can access your personal details through your online account. Online accounts can include your call logs, email, social media accounts, and iCloud accounts. Update those accounts’ passwords and security questions to ensure someone else can’t get access.
Update Yourself For Your Smartphones at The Chennai Mobiles.
The Chennai Mobiles is an electronic gadget store in Coimbatore. It deals in more than 6000+ products from various brands. They are more popular for their mobile collection. Under the guidance of their Managing Director A.M Samsu Ali, the salespeople are well-trained to deal with the customers. They will guide you on the products you want to buy and how to take care of them. For example, when you buy a smartphone from there, they will impart the above tips so you can understand it well.
Regarding gadget shopping, it has to be The Chennai Mobiles.
Key takeaways
Technology is increasing every day, and so are hackers’ ideas. Thus, it has become essential to take care of your prized possessions, which, when leaked, can create many problems. Digital security education is essential to protect against threats. It is important to stay informed about the latest trends to protect privacy smartphone and online security.
The above tips are more than enough when applied to your smartphone, ensuring its almost 100% safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which app is safe for privacy?
ProtonMail, DuckDuckGo and Signal are the top-rated apps for privacy and security.
2. Which app is suitable for hiding essential data?
Vault. You can keep your photos, videos, and messages hidden and confidential by using Vault-Hide SMS, Pics & Videos to store them offline.
3. Can you remove a hacker from your phone?
Deleting unnecessary apps, resetting your device, and recovering hacked accounts are among the best ways to remove a hacker from your smartphone.
4. Can a hacker see my screen on my phone?
Yes, hackers can potentially see your phone screen,
5. Is screen mirroring safe?
Screen mirroring is safe when the phone is with you and you follow the built-in screen mirroring protocols.
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