How to Keep Your Smartphone Safe From Hackers

Our Smartphone is more precious to us like anything. Because, unlike our TV, laptop or desktop

computer, our Smartphone is one gadget that fits right in our pocket and we can use it anywhere at any time. The major concern is how many of us are aware that Smartphone are prime targets for cyber-attackers?

Unawareness is a Deadly Threat

Smartphone has become more attractive to cyber-criminals because majority users of Smartphone do not focus on securing their devices as much as we do for our traditional hardware. And why should we bother too? This is the misperception that leads us to meet the most unexpected accidents of cybercrime. In day to day life, how many times you have heard from your family or friends that their mobile has been hacked. The problem again here is unawareness of the facts.                  

Public Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile apps, phishing emails, spyware coupled with your GPS tracking software and other external forces might make your device vulnerable to malicious code and hackers. It is the blessing of today’s technology that there are some gateways to protect yourself from these malicious acts.

What One Should Watch?

• If the Smartphone operates or connects to the Internet slower than usual without any known reason or warning, it may be due to the malware on the device.
   
• On smart phones and tablets you can check the running programs and if you see a program that was not opened by you, uninstall it immediately or factory reset the device.
   
• Malicious software and programs are difficult to detect as they hide in the background of your Smartphone. Lower battery is the best indicator to point such situations as these programs consume a lot of power. 

Precautions from Being Hacked

Use Wi-Fi Carefully

Sharing personal data on any free wireless Wi-Fi network was always considered very unsafe. One way to protect you is by using mobile or cellular network connection that is less likely to be hacked. Another secure way is to limit the usage of Wi-Fi connection by listing between available Wi-Fi connections, which is secure to use and which is not. 

Be Careful About the Apps

Many free and even paid Smartphone apps come with intrusive spyware or malware. Always research each app, read reviews, check apps accessibility and permission requirements before you download it. Try to use apps from reputable and highly rated app developers to ensure there are no security issues.

Avoid Shady Links

Hackers and identity thieves mainly infect Smartphone and tablets by luring its user to click on a link. Avoid opening any mysterious links in private messages, even if it’s from someone you know, it may be a phishing scam from malicious spammers. Clicking any such link could result in loss of your personal data or account information.

Safeguard Your Data By “Wipe your Phone” Feature

Few Smartphones have a feature such as Find My iPhone, Android Lost or BlackBerry Protect that allows you to remote wipe all your personal data, in case if your device has been lost or stolen. Having a wipe feature can prevent others from gaining access to your call history, photos, text messages, email account, calendar appointments, and more.

Use a VPN

A VPN, is a service that sets up a secure encrypted 'tunnel' between your Smartphone and the internet, it routes all your internet traffic safely through these tunnels, with this technology no outside intrusion can look into your do’s on the internet.  VPN ensures that you are secure and anonymous all the time. It eliminates every chance of identity theft, data snooping and hacking online.