It’s like having your house robbed when your smartphone is hacked.
Your smartphone doesn’t just store your belongings; it also lets intruders know which ones are the most precious to you. By definition, anything is meaningful if it is on the phone you constantly carry with you. This massive invasion of privacy is a serious violation of your personal space, and figuring out what’s missing may take some time.
Hacking attempts can affect anyone. Whether they’re from opportunist hackers or government-sponsored spies, here’s how to avoid them. This guide is your one-stop guide to thwarting hackers, whether online or on the street, and can help you protect your privacy, data, and peace of mind.
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Tips to Secure Your Phone from Hackers
Keep up to date – and don’t leave any gaps.
When it comes to safeguarding yourself against hackers, the first step is to constantly apply software updates as soon as they become available, valid for smartphones and computers. Yes, updating can be a time-consuming and inconvenient procedure, and it can sometimes result in annoyances in the interface you’re used to. Nonetheless, many successful hacks take advantage of vulnerabilities that have already been patched; revealing yourself is foolish.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, I’d highly advise against utilizing unapproved tools to “root” your phone (also known as “jailbreaking” on iOS). Technical safeguards can be bypassed on a rooted phone, enabling apps to execute various operations that are generally disallowed – including snooping on your private information.
Take a look at what’s already on your phone.
Even though the apps on your phone initially appeared to be essential and safe, future updates may have converted them into something more dangerous. Take two minutes to go through all of the apps on your phone and see which permissions they’re using: on iOS, go to Settings > Privacy, and you’ll find a wealth of information.
It’s more challenging to track which apps have certain rights on Android, but many security tools can help, including free Avast and McAfee packages. These tools can also detect and notify you if you’re trying to install malicious software or if a “phishing” assault attempts to fool you into entering a password into an untrustworthy app or webpage.
Lockscreen notifications should not be used to give the game away.
Messages and notifications from various apps appear on your phone’s lock screen. It’s worth considering what these alerts might disclose.
If you work for a large bank, for example, a visible email from a coworker or a meeting reminder signals to a burglar that this could be a valuable phone to steal.
Consider limiting Siri access from the lock screen on iOS. Siri isn’t supposed to reveal personal information before entering your passcode to unlock your iPhone. Still, previous hacks have allowed intruders to use Siri to unlock the device, view contacts’ details, and unlock the device.
It’s best to disable Siri on the Lockscreen entirely: go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Disable Siri on the Lockscreen.
SIM Swapping is a new threat
A SIM swap occurs when someone persuades your carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card that they possess. They aren’t doing it for laughs or to rack up long-distance charges.
Scammers can quickly complete the text-based two-factor authentication procedures that protect your most sensitive accounts by diverting your incoming messages. They can even use your phone number to deceive services into giving up your passwords if you don’t have two-factor enabled.
This is where Efani enters the picture. Efani is the safest cell phone plan available, as it protects you from SIM-hacking, encrypts your personal data, and provides $5 million in insurance coverage. You’ll never have to worry about hackers accessing your sensitive personal and financial data again due to their safe mobile carrier, which offers unlimited calls, texts, and data along with military-grade technology.
Open wifi should be avoided at all costs.
We’re all aware that using an open wifi network carries a risk.
However, you may not realize how serious the situation is: anyone in your immediate neighborhood may monitor what you’re doing online.
This type of attack necessitates specialized software and abilities, so it’s unlikely to pose a threat in your neighborhood coffee shop, but it’s not a risk that should be overlooked. If you have any doubts about a wireless network, don’t connect; instead, use the mobile internet on your phone.
Alternatively, use/build a VPN tool!
Don’t use online services if they’re not locked.
Auto-login is a valuable function, especially since inputting passwords on a virtual keyboard. It’s also a significant security risk: an invader only needs to open your browser to access all your online accounts.
As a result, auto-login functionality should be avoided at all costs.
If you have to, utilize a password manager app that needs you to re-enter a master password regularly. Also, don’t use the same password for multiple apps or services: if one password is discovered, it can be used to gain access to a wealth of personal information. This is true even if you take great care to keep your smartphone safe: hackers often breach internet services to steal user credentials, which they subsequently use on other websites.
Prepare to have your phone tracked and locked.
Prepare ahead of time so that your data is safe, even if your phone is taken. One alternative is to set your phone to automatically wipe itself after a specified number of failed passcode tries.
If that seems a little extreme, keep in mind that both Apple and Google provide “find my device” services that allow you to locate your phone on a map and lock or erase it remotely. This is accessed through the iCloud website for Apple customers; you can check if it’s enabled on your phone by going to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone. Google’s service is available at google.com/android/devicemanager for Android users. You may also make a missing phone ring, which helps attract a burglar’s attention or locate a cellphone that has just been misplaced.
