Introduction

In a fast-paced world, your smartphone is your lifeline. It contains everything you own, from personal photos and correspondence to financial information. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Cybercriminals are always creating new ways to take advantage of vulnerabilities, so knowing how to protect your smartphone from being hacked is critical. You can save a great deal of stress by using smart mobile security tips to protect your smartphone. This guide is designed to help you as you discover how to secure your smartphone.

Why Mobile Security is Important

Cyber threats like phishing, malware, and data theft are increasing. As a result, the need for cybersecurity for mobile phones is even more persistent. But ultimately, you don't need to be a pro cyber security expert to take relatively simple systematic cyber security steps. A lot can help by taking some of the preliminary action to check your phone security and deter hackers from the outset.

Let's now look closely at some clear mobile phone safety tips to help you protect your mobile device.

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1. Hardening your Android Device Security Settings

Your Android smartphone provides built-in tools to bring more security to your device. You can start with your device encryption settings in your Android security settings. This code scrambles your data, so it is unreadable to anyone without your PIN or password. To see if this is available to your device, go to: Settings > Security > Encryption & Credentials. If not enabled, make sure to turn it on. Be sure to choose a difficult to guess PIN/password or a biometric lock (fingerprint or facial recognition).

2. Use good AV software

The chances of malware attacking and infecting your phone and/ or stealing your information is increasing, especially if you are an Android user. You should look for an AV app from one of the trusted sources in the Google Play Store, or even one of the popular apps on the iPhone App Store. Both the iPhone and Android app options detect either malware or malicious software easily. Scan your device regularly to check your phone's security that and then check the device for attacks. You can also check out the Government of India’s Cyber Swachhta Kendra (https://www.cyberswachhtakendra.gov.in/) for some free anti-malware and anti-bot tools - download them and protect your device.

3. Be Careful of Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi, such as that in cafes or airports, are convenient but not entirely safe. Hackers can intercept your data via unsecured networks. Remain cautious regarding sensitive information, like using a banking app in public Wi-Fi. The safest way to access information while on public Wi-Fi is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which encrypts access. They therefore create a tunnel for your data and follow the mobile security tips when on the go.

4. Inspect App Info and Permissions

Apps will commonly request access to your camera, contacts, and location. These permissions could expose your data, so be careful. Do not grant unnecessary permissions. When downloading and installing an app, read the permissions the app requests.

5. Stick to Official App Stores

Downloading apps from unofficial sources - such as .apk files sent through a messaging app- is a common way that hackers spread malware. It is best to use the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS. These platforms review apps to ensure their security, reducing the possibility that malware might end up on your device.

6. Update Your Device

Software updates often introduce new features as well, but they largely fix vulnerabilities. When attackers breach an end user's mobile device, it's likely due to an exploitable vulnerability that could be patched through updates. You can choose to allow your mobile device to automatically install updates on the operating system and apps by going to Settings> Software Update. You can also check manually, but verify you are checking at least on a weekly basis.

7. Enable Remote Tracking and Wipe

If you have lost your phone, chances are you will start stressing. However, you can decrease the amount of stress and damage by enabling Find My Device (Android) or Find My iPhone (iOS). Find My Device will let you either find your phone if misplaced or remotely wipe it if lost or stolen. You can enable Find My Device in the security settings section of your device.

 Conclusion

You need to consider securing your smartphone as a long-term commitment. By using these mobile phone safety tips, you can have the data on your phone secured and can avoid any threats to your personal and financial data or information. Regularly check your phone's security, be vigilant, and practice these safe habits to counter hackers before they can ever attack. At Motilal Oswal, we take your security seriously and want to make sure you can invest with confidence. Stay smart, stay safe, stay secure in your digital life.

Related Blogs - Top Cybersecurity tips to stay safe online | Cyber Swachhta Kendra - Digital clean India by Government of India