10 tips to secure your mobile phone, by MalwareBytes
Some are useful, others a little trivial
Recently i have read a useful article in MalwareBytes Blog, that shares 10 tips for securing mobile devices.
Just last month, vulnerabilities in iOS 9.3.5 were being exploited by the notorious NSO Group, maker of surveillance software, to read text messages and emails, record sounds, collect passwords, and even track the calls and whereabouts of users. Apple released a security patch on August 25 in response.
Meanwhile, on the Android side, a Linux bug first introduced in Android 4.4 (and present in all future versions) left 1.4 billion users vulnerable to hijacking attacks. The vulnerability allows attackers to terminate connections and, if the connections aren’t encrypted, inject malicious code or content into users’ communications. Representatives from Google say they are aware of the vulnerability and are “taking the appropriate actions.”
I have highlighted tips that are (in my opinion) the most important
Ways to stay secure
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Lock your phone with a password or fingerprint detection.
Set the time on your password lock to be short as well — 30 seconds or less should cut it. - If it’s not already the default on your phone, consider encrypting your data.
- Set up remote wipe. If your phone is lost or stolen, you’ll be able to wipe all of its data remotely.
- Back up phone data. Consider connecting your device to its associated cloud service in order to automatically back up data (and encrypt it).
- Avoid third-party apps. If you’re on an iPhone, you don’t have much of a choice. However, for Android users, staying on Google Play and not allowing apps from unknown sources keeps you relatively safe. If you do decide to use third-party apps, research to be sure you’re not getting a malicious one. Read reviews, and if the app asks for access to too much personal data up front, don’t download it.
- Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android. While the processes are different, the end result is bypassing what phone manufacturers intended (including security protocols) and ultimately weakening the security of your device.
- Update operating systems often.
- Be wary of social engineering scams.
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Use public wifi carefully: public wifi is inherently insecure, so try not to make transactions or transmit sensitive data while using it.
Consider using a VPN service to encrypt data transmitted online. - Download anti-malware for your mobile device. If you do happen to download a malicious app or open a malicious attachment, mobile anti-malware protection can prevent the infection.
The original article
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