What is the importance of mobile security?

Did you know, your phone’s security depends on you?

We are living in an era of mobile technology. As we prepare to enter 2021 Mobile technology has already dominated the digital world and drives the global economy.

• More than 5 billion people in the world own mobile devices.
• 194 billion mobile phone apps were downloaded in 2019.
• Two-thirds of the world is now connected via mobile devices.
• Mobile owners worldwide will increase to 7.33 billion by 2023.
• It means every third person you meet on the street owns a handheld device

You are most likely included in the 5 billion people who own a mobile device.

Because we can access almost anything through it, let’s be honest our dependency on it increases, it seems like our entire life is stored in this small device.

Most people do not spend their days taking precautionary measures to secure their phone until they realize they need to, this explains why so many people’s accounts get hacked, but then again you are not most of the people.

If you are considering the kinds of important data you keep in your phone and thinking of levelling up your phone security. Maybe this article is for you.

Hop in, it’s time to step up and take your phone’s security to the next level.

The advantages of using a phone

Convenience is found in the palms of your hand, thanks to the genius invention called the mobile phone.

Your mobile phone is a pocket-size computer, everything you need is conveniently stored in it. It is no denying that phones have made our lives more comfortable, all sorts of useful applications such as mobile bank, camera, recorder, navigational device, social media, daily 

weather update, global news, calls and messaging are all accessible with a tap of the screen, transactions require less physical effort, lots of advantage to those who value their time, and the list of its benefits are endless.

This smart device is multi-functional and you can store all the important data you need, which makes it a goldmine of personal information. Whilst it has become a universal helper to everyone, it also has some issues,

How secure is your mobile phone:

When it comes to phone security how many of the general public are taking protective measures. Our lives are becoming more digital, yet threats are also evolving. Factors like malicious software, which has been increasingly at an alarming rate are facts we have to face.

Mobile phones are at risk and vulnerable to a cyber attack. The stakes are higher on mobile phones because everyone conducts both personal and business online during the workday.

What are the different mobile threats and how do they work:

• Physical threat
  Lost or stolen mobile, when your device is stolen hackers can access your private data because they have direct access to the hardware where it is stored.

• Application-based threats
  These are malicious apps specifically designed to commit fraud when you download the app that looks legit but actually looks through data from your device, without you realizing what’s going on.

• Network-based threats
  WiFi and Bluetooth, both can host threats as mobile devices typically support these networks. This can happen while you use public WIFI networks, and when you connect devices via Bluetooth in public, you could be sending unencrypted data across the network that can easily be read by someone.

• Web-based threats
  Or online threats are malicious software programs that are designed to infect victim’s devices programs. Over 80% of experts believe 2020 will bring more malware attacks than ever.
  
  – It Automatically downloads malware content when you visit affected sites that may seem fine but actually are not.
  
  – By simply visiting an unsafe web page you can trigger a browser exploit that can perform other actions on your phone or install malware.

Mobile security:

Otherwise known as wireless security, is the protection of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other portable devices from threats and vulnerabilities associated with wireless computing.

What to do? Here are Nine (9) ways to improve your mobile security:

* While the treat is imminent phone security doesn’t have to be difficult. The need to reconsider the importance of your phone’s security is now.

1. Activate a screen lock

Passwords are essential for security it is a means by which a user proves that they are authorized to use a device.

Locking your phone with a passcode is probably the most basic yet effective way you can do to protect your phone.

Devices provide you with different types of passcode, it’s best to settle with the fingerprint lock. Unlike a password-based, you get rid of the need to memorize the alphanumeric passwords with special characters. It gives instant access to your device just by touching it. It is also highly secure because your fingerprint is unique and impossible to duplicate.

When you chose Pattern or Pin options to remember to create a strong password, skip the easy obvious ones like birthdates, wedding dates, your child’s name, or simple passwords like 1,2,3, 4, why? Certainly, because these are easy enough to find as we post more and more of our private lives in the general public. Remember to make a strong password and use it wisely.

To reduce unauthorized use of your device try to set it to automatically timeout and request PIN re-entry, restrict how many times you can attempt to enter the code. The shorter the timeout period the better. If you are using a PIN/Passcode, enable the option to “erase data” after a certain number of failed attempts. By taking these steps you are certain of not being exposed to open harm/ loss.

2. Updating

Regularly update your phone or enable automatic updating keeps your mobile running the latest version, by doing these you enhance the performance of your phone while making it harder for hackers to hack into your device, security issues and bugs are also resolved.

How to update: Connect to WiFi, then open your settings, select about phone, Tap check now for updates, then click Install, tada! it’s that simple!

Before updating your phone, make sure your battery percentage is sufficient.

3.Tracking

Many people might realize that there are such apps to help you locate a stolen or lost phone only after they face the ugly truth of their phone stolen or gone for good. Recently manufactured phones already have to Find My Device installed in their system, you can also download it manually from the Google Play Store.

The good thing is that once you’ve set it up, you don’t have to do much since having the service is handy.

How to install Find My Device app:

1. On your home screen, open  Play Store 
2. Look for Find My Device
3. Select install

Signing in to Find my device:

1. Open Find my device on your app drawer
2. Sign in using your Google account credentials
3. Enter your password and tap sign in
4. Grant location access to the service

 Locating a lost phone

In the worst scenario where your phone falls into the wrong hands, or you are certain it’s irretrievable, the hard option of erasing the data remotely is definitely what’s left and the tool needed is  Find My Device.

Even with your phone turned OFF, when you send the erase command, the factory reset process will be initiated, as soon as the phone goes online. You can also delete data from connected Sd card, depending on the manufacturer and version of your phone.

1. Locate your phone on Find My Device
2. Select Erase
3. You should be able to track your phone, ring it or wipe its data after signing in.

Tap the erase button to confirm the deletion of data.

*For Apple users, if Find My Device is enabled on the missing device, These additional actions can help you:

1. Sign in to iCloud.com/find on the web or use the Find my app on another Apple device

2.Go to iCloud.com or open the Find my device, Tap find iPhone. View its location map.

3.When you are certain that it is lost. Mark as lost, this will lock your phone with a passcode while you can display your phone number on the screen, it will also keep track of the last known location of the device

4. If it’s stolen or can’t be retrieved Erase your device to prevent someone else from accessing your data

* Find My Device app is the only way to track your missing device. If Find My Device isn’t enabled before the phone goes missing, there’s no Apple service that can find your device.

4. Trusted apps

Think before you click. Download apps only from official sources. To ensure your apps are legit, always navigate to the Google play store before you 

• Search and download.
• Stay away from sketchy app stores those kinds of apps that are downloaded outside the comfortable confines of Google play store. They may seem normal but can spread types of malware that exploit system vulnerabilities to steal data or even take over a whole device. Those malicious apps aren’t a minor threat, even apple’s app store isn’t immune from this issue, although it’s much less severe.

5. Privacy options

Times are changing and these days your phone is a window to your soul, Everything including your location, contacts, all accumulated data, your texts emails, photos even your bank account can be found on that phone in your pocket. You also know that google shares a history of all the places you’ve visited by default via google maps right? if that does make you uncomfortable, maybe taking the time to visit your privacy settings will help you feel safer.

Although Android devices are richly packed with security features, many of them are disabled by default, in the course of using your device they get set without consideration, or in the case of app permissions.

There are some ways you can do to feel secure without having to compromise living freely in the open or thinking of throwing your phone away, here are the basics:

Android, iPhone and iPad 

• Visit the privacy menu in the android settings
  – Open the Privacy settings on your chrome app
  – Tap the features you want to update
  – Tap the feature/s that you want to update
  – check and double-check 

Tap clear browsing data, To clear all your browsing data.

6. Regularly Backing up

It’s nice to take a few minutes to just sit down with your phone in hand, and back it up, Let’s face it, Sometimes the unavoidable happens, we can never be too careful, phones break, are misplaced, or stolen.

Be prepared for any consequences by being a responsible owner. Make sure all the important information on your phone is safe. Certainly, that handy device you carry with you wherever you go contains important files.

Built into every android phone is Google’s Back up service, it automatically backs up things like WiFi networks, device settings, and app data to google drive.

Here’s a step by step procedure:

– Open the settings app on your phone after connecting your device to Wifi
– Tap on backup and reset,
– Tap back up my data, select turn on
– You’ll see options for backing up your data including app data, and passwords. Choose the Google account you want to use to store your backups
– Use cloud storage services like google drive when it comes to backing up files you’ve downloaded

On iPhone

– Connect to WiFi
– Go to settings
– Tap iCloud

– Scroll down and tap back up, make sure to switch on iCloud backup

– Tap back up now, wait for the process to be completed, and stay connected to Wi-Fi.

7. Antivirus

With all the essential safety features in today’s Android device, the question is “Do you really need Antivirus on your phone ? ” well it depends entirely on how you use your phone.

Because Apple devices run on a closed system, Apple devices are secure.

Android device run on an open-source, owners can modify the settings to adjust them suitably to their preference, sadly by doing this it makes the security system of the device fragile and prone to malware.

If you use your device for work, it is more likely that you store important information in it like confidential emails, banking details that would be costly and vulnerable if exposed to hackers.

Fortunately choosing antivirus with useful features adds an extra layer of security on your phone. Android antivirus software can be of huge help in keeping your device secure, particularly to avoid any chance of acquiring dubious application from unknown sources or apps outside Google play store.

Here are some recommended Antivirus for Android:
– Avg Antivirus
– Kaspersky mobile antivirus
– Avast Antivirus

8. Use a secure connection

No Public WiFi is 100% secure, It is safer to use your device data plan for needed sensitive transactions. Information sent using public WiFi are easily intercepted. Hackers have been known to set-up WiFi hotspots to steal valuable information.

While connecting to public WiFi is convenient it is also risky. If you use public WiFi spots on a regular basis consider using a Virtual private network.

VPN is definitely one of the key ways to protect yourself while online, it establishes a private, secure network between your WiFi-connected phone, websites and anything else you connect. Experts recommend the following when choosing a VPN:

1. Choose providers that offer secure communication protocols
2. Look for a VPN that can protect your privacy and your identity.
3. Determine your provider’s capacity.
4. Select trusted VPN provider, carefully read reviews to avoid fake services

9. Configure Bluetooth settings properly

This wireless connection has been available to us for decades now, helping us a lot by connecting devices and sharing data seamlessly. But have you ever asked yourself “How safe is this Bluetooth technology ?”

Though the connection itself is very safe Bluetooth connection like internet connection has also vulnerabilities, particularly these days where data thieves are everywhere. Luckily there are always ways we can do to be less vulnerable.

• Connect to Bluetooth devices that use the latest version.- Note that there are two versions of Bluetooth the older and newer one, technically when you connect your phone to a 4.0 Bluetooth version which is the new one, it will be extremely hard for a hacker to break into your network.
• Pair devices using passkey – Passkey entry is PIN pairing process that requires entering 6 digit PIN, While the pairing mechanism is faster and allows two devices to connect without the need of entering a PIN it is also vulnerable to hacking.
• Change your Bluetooth setting to Undiscoverable. Enable discoverable when you need to connect to a trusted device.
• Connect only to known devices, ensure you are at a safe place before switching your Bluetooth on. Avoid connecting devices in public.

When you have taken all these precautions, Congratulations you’ve just taken responsible security measures needed to prevent future security breaches.

Remember that no one can predict what may happen. As we enter another digital year, let us prioritize our privacy, it is critical to continue taking steps to improve the safety and security of what we have available to us. 

As they say “Safety first is safety always.”