15 Security Tips for Mobile Devices

You probably lock your front door and your car, but what about your mobile phone? Well, if you aren’t doing it now, you should start taking your mobile device security seriously. Your phone contains passwords, data, photos and all types of private information, all of which may leave you vulnerable to hackers.

We use our phones for virtually everything nowadays — from banking to paying for goods and services, browsing the web and watching our favorite shows. This has made us all more vulnerable to cyber threats as fraudsters have new ways of stealing our data.

HERE ARE 15 MOBILE DEVICE SECURITY TIPS TO CONSIDER TO HELP KEEP YOUR PHONE SECURE:

1. Always lock your phone when it’s not in use. Set up Touch ID or Facial Recognition on your device, and back that up with a unique PIN or pattern.
2. Don’t download apps from third-party sites. Cybercriminals create “spoof” apps to trick people into downloading malware or spyware onto their device. Only use official apps from Google Play or the App Store.
3. Avoid public charging stations unless there is an emergency. Hackers have been known to set up fake charging stations in scams known as “juice jacking.” After you plug in, they can access your phone’s data or install malware on the device.
4. In our fast-paced world, it can be tempting to seek out the most convenient internet connection while away from home. Use caution when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals can access and monitor your activity if you connect to one of their seemingly trustworthy, “spoof” networks.
5. Use a different password for every account you own and don’t save them in your browser. Up to 62% of people always or mostly use the same password across multiple accounts. When duplicate passwords are used across personal and business accounts, even more people and data are put at risk. Use a password manager to help you record and manage unique passwords for every app and test your password strength before using it.
6. Try to avoid opening email links, even if you think the sender is familiar. Phishing is a common social engineering scam that delivers malicious malware to your phone or network. Smartphones are just as susceptible to viruses as computers. In fact, 1 in 4 consumers have experienced a fraud attempt via mobile devices multiple times per week.
7. If you must connect your phone to public Wi-Fi, avoid visiting websites that contain sensitive or financial information, like your bank or credit card’s website. When connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, be sure to use a “virtual private network” or VPN, which encrypts your data.
8. Install antivirus software on mobile devices. As a best practice for any mobile device — phones, tablets or other — consider adding antivirus software for the additional security it provides against malware or other viruses.
9. Always back up your smartphone’s data. If your mobile device gets lost, stolen or destroyed, would you feel safe that your contacts, pictures, apps and email data are secure? Make sure that you sync your phone, so your data is backed up, whether that be on the cloud or to a personal, external hard drive.
10. Speaking of lost cell phones, turn on remote tracking in your mobile device settings. Apple users have Find My iPhone, and Android users can enable Find My Device to see the last known location of the device. Both features allow you to remotely wipe your smartphone’s data if it’s stolen or can’t be retrieved.
11. Consider a mobile threat defense like the Mobile Attack Control™ feature in Sontiq’s mobile app. It scans your phone and will alert you to potential threats like spyware and spoofed Wi-Fi networks. It also includes fully managed identity restoration if data exposure were to lead to an identity theft incident.
12. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your key accounts, like mobile banking apps and peer-to-peer payment apps. This added layer of security may help prevent a thief from being able to wipe out your financial accounts.
13. Audit your apps to see what information they are accessing. Mobile apps can be a real threat to your security, with 74% of apps having at least one security flaw. Be cautious about what permissions you grant the apps that you download.
14. Do not “root” your Android or “jailbreak” your iPhone. This is a process that gives you complete access of your device, but in doing so, removes many of the safeguards that the manufacturers have put in place.
15. Always update your phone’s operating system (OS) when prompted. These updates are meant to protect your device and information.

No smartphone is totally immune to hackers and cybercriminals, but by following the steps above, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud.

Diamond Credit Union has partnered with CyberScout , a Sontiq brand, to offer comprehensive identity management services. If you detect suspicious activity or would like to proactively protect your identity, contact us at 610-326-5490 to be connected to a CyberScout fraud expert.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CYBERSCOUT AT DIAMOND