As smartphones have become a part of our everyday life, so have they also become prime targets for hackers attempting to access our private information.

With all the reports about malware attacks and data breaches, no one can blame you for wanting to protect your smartphone from these hackers who don’t need physical access to your phone to steal your personal information or infect the device with malware. They simply either infiltrate your device with innocent-looking apps or via unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Nonetheless, you can keep hackers from getting the upper hand by taking steps to secure your smartphone. Although nothing is foolproof, a little bit of know-how would improve your chances of hack-proofing your smartphone. Below are 7 ways to help prevent your smartphone from being hacked:

Stay Updated

When it comes to protecting smartphones from hackers, the number one step is always to install software updates as soon as they become available. Yes, updating can be a very tedious and disturbing process; these updates patch vulnerable holes and make your phone more secure.

Vet Apps before Installing

When you install a smartphone app, various permissions like the ability to read files, access your camera or listen in to your microphone may have to be granted. Though these requests have genuine uses, they can also be potentially open to exploitation; especially for Android users because Google’s app-vetting process isn’t as strict as Apple’s so, it is advisable to think before approving the request.

Make It Hard For Intruders to Get In

If a thief gets hold of your smartphone, they can cause all sorts of trouble. For a start, your email app probably contains a lot of personal information like your bank account details so; it is wise to use complex combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, you can use uppercase letters in the middle of your password or an unusual symbol to further strengthen your password. Remember, the more complex you make the password, the more secure it is.

Beware Of Unsecured Wi-Fi

We all know that unsecured connections don’t have lock icons near their listings and that there could be high levels of risks involved in using them. Right?

This sort of attack demands specialist software along with great skills but it isn’t a danger that cannot be prevented. Simply ignore when in doubt about a wireless network or better still don’t connect – stick with your smartphone’s mobile internet connection or install a virtual private network (VPN) which directs your traffic through encrypted connections. Even when using a VPN, never attempt to access your bank account or vital records on an unsecured connection.

Don’t Open Suspicious Emails

By any means, opening a mail you’re not sure of can give the sender a backdoor into your personal information. Thus, it is smart to delete the message immediately if you don’t recognize the sender and if you do recognize them, hover over their name to make sure the email is legit.

Don’t Share Too Much Personal Info on Social Media

It’s okay to use your real name for networking but leave it that way. Never provide your address, phone number, mother’s maiden name, the first day you had sex, etc, on your profile. Hackers can use any of this information to hack and steal your personal information.

Avoid Auto-Login

Though it appears convenient, it simply makes hacking as easy as opening your browser. Henceforth, you should take your time to enter your usernames and passwords especially on sites that you use for banking and other sensitive business to prevent being hacked.

What do you think of these tips or do you know of any other that isn’t on the list? Let us know in the comment box.

SOURCE: https://www.askifa.ng/prevent-smartphone-hacked/