People store their most personal information on their smartphones, so when a hacker gains access to your device and steals your information, it's a huge invasion of your privacy. Your smartphone holds both valuable information, like banking details and passwords, and personal information like photos and private messages that you wouldn't want anyone else to see.
Smartphone theft continues to be a major problem around the world, with criminal gangs stealing them from around the world and shipping them to Eastern Europe where the attackers break in and steal information before sending the smartphones for sale on the black market in countries like Nigeria. Of course, even if your smartphone hasn’t been stolen, hackers are constantly trying new and inventive ways to break into your device remotely and steal your data without you knowing. So it’s crucial that you develop a strategy to keep the information stored on your phone safe at all times. Here are some tips on how to protect your smartphone from hackers and intruders.
Update your operating system and applications
Device manufacturers and software companies are constantly updating their software with new features and security fixes that can help protect your phone from hackers. Android and iPhone are notified when updates for operating systems and apps are available, and if possible, they should install those updates without delay.
Lock your device
Both Android and iOS have solid software security features built into their operating systems, but historically many people have found passcodes to be annoying and have been unable to activate the features. Fortunately, fingerprint sensors and Face ID have become standard on almost all smartphones in recent years, so there's no excuse not to enable lock security. However, even if you have an older phone, it's worth using whatever method of lock protection your device has.
Use a password manager to create and store strong and unique passwords
As crazy as it may seem, “123456” and “password” remain the two most commonly used passwords today, and they’re barely better than no password at all. Many people also choose to use the same password for multiple accounts, and while that password may be strong, it could leave your entire digital life exposed to hackers. It’s much safer and easier to use a password manager, like Lastpass or 1Password, to create and securely store unique passwords for each of your online accounts, and then all you have to do is remember a strong password to access that service. For increased protection, enable two-factor authentication (“2FA”) for the password manager itself.
Install antivirus
Many people only use antivirus to protect their home computer, but in reality, it's always useful to have antivirus on every device you own. If you install software from the App Store or Play Store , these apps are generally safe, as they've been tested by Apple or Google engineers , but when you're browsing the web, you can never be sure if someone will choose to target your device. Many well-known websites have been targeted by hackers who have secretly introduced malware to users through advertising, and reliable up-to-date antivirus from BitDefender or Sophos will help stop these attempts.
Use a VPN
Public WiFi is always a bit of a security risk, but even when using more trusted networks, a VPN can protect you from prying eyes as they create a secure encrypted connection between your device and the website or web service you’re using. Not only will they prevent hackers from seeing what websites you’ve been visiting, but they’ll also prevent your phone network or ISP from seeing what you’ve been up to. Cyberghost, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN VPNs are considered three of the best on the market, so we recommend giving them a try.
Avoid public USB charging points and public WiFi
If you plug your phone into a public charging port or public WiFi hotspot, even if it appears to be from a trusted vendor, you are leaving your device open to exploitation by hackers. Your phone's charging port is also the data port, making it an easy way for hackers to gain access to your device, while connecting to the wrong WiFi hotspot could mean sending all your usernames and passwords directly to them.
If you follow these steps to protect your smartphone from hackers, you should be confident that you've done everything possible to protect your data from prying eyes, and it will be much less likely that hackers will be able to steal your identity and delve into your personal life.
