4 Ways To Protect Your Mobile Devices From Hackers

4 Ways To Protect Your Mobile Devices From Hackers

How To Protect Your Mobile Devices From Hackers

Smartphone in recent years has been closer to many people than their loved ones. Everyone who is tech-savvy or a regular spends more time looking at these devices than the mirror. They become so personal to us that even a day without touching them seems impossible to come through. Current research shows that As per eMarketer, the average US adult spends 3 hours and 43 minutes on their mobile devices. This is true for average working and class citizens but more so for teenage and social media freaks.

ALSO, READ  How Organizations Can Secure Clients’ Data From Hackers.

Everyone becomes addicted to their devices at some point because of the service they render.

In this article, we will be discussing the different ways a mobile device can get compromised and how to fix it

1. The Danger Of Connecting to Public Wi-Fi

Most public Wi-Fi connections are unencrypted and insecure, any data you submit while connected could be intercepted. This provides hackers access to your browsing history and accounts logins, putting passwords and other sensitive information at risk.

HOW TO FIX

If you must use public Wi-Fi, set up a virtual private network (VPN), which allows you to safely and secretly exchange data. Before connecting to public Wi-Fi, download a VPN app from an official app store and connect to the VPN service. No VPN? When using public Wi-Fi, avoid logging in to password-protected websites that hold critical information, such as banking and social networking sites, or even email.

ALSO, READ How To Create A Secure Password For Your Accounts/Profile

2. The Danger Of Email Phishing

“Research shows that mobile users are three times as likely than desktop users to fall victim to email phishing attempts,” Schaffer explains. One factor is the smaller address bar on the phone, which makes it more difficult to see (and hence verify) the online address before entering important information. In addition, busy smartphone users may be less likely to scrutinize emails as thoroughly as they would on a desktop or laptop.

HOW TO FIX

• Be cautious of emails or texts from somebody you don’t know.
• If the email requests for personal information, contains spelling issues or strangely worded lines or addresses you generically (as “Dear Customer,” for example), don’t click any links.
• Instead of clicking on links, type in URLs from scratch—especially if you’ll be providing personal information.
• If you accidentally click a malicious link, disable Wi-Fi and enable airplane mode to end your session and disconnect your device from the internet. Then, if your phone’s operating system allows it, perform a virus scan (if it doesn’t, applying software updates as soon as they become available should keep malware at bay).

3. The Danger Of Downloading Malware/Unverified Apps

Malware apps can obtain access to a user’s personal information, record login and password information, view location data, download further malicious apps, and distribute malware by incorporating the phone into a botnet (an infected network run without the user’s awareness).

HOW TO FIX

Avoid independent app retailers. Only download apps from the official app store for your smartphone’s operating system. Despite the fact that some malware-infected programs have been known to pass their approval procedure, your odds are extremely low.

4. The Danger Of Voicemail PIN

The majority of voicemail accounts are protected by four-digit passcodes that hackers can often decipher with much effort. Once inside your voicemail, a hacker could gain access to an online account or application and request a password reset over the phone. If you miss the call and the automated service leaves the reset code on your voicemail, a hacker could gain access to your account.

HOW TO FIX

Set a lengthier PIN (if possible) that is difficult to guess (don’t use your birthdate or phone number’s final four digits, for example) and change it periodically.

In conclusion, kindly adhere to the above information and take precautions to avoid losing sensitive details to hackers.

If this article helps kindly comment below

CYBERINFORMER.NET –  brings updates on the latest cyber security tips, online safety tips and cyber information, cyber security courses for Nigerians and Foreigners, Cyber security jobs for seekers and much more…

Here, you can read and share thoughts, ideas, and opinions and get updates from around the globe in the world of CYBERSECURITY.