A Simple Guide to Cell Phone Security
Our cell phones will contain a lot of our personal information. From bank details to our home address, there’s a lot of data stored on our phones that we don’t want to end up in the wrong hands. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps we can take to protect our phones and keep our data safe.
Password protection
One of the best ways to keep your cell phone secure is to ensure it is password protected. You can set this up so your lock screen can only be opened by a password or PIN. Modern cell phones will also use fingerprint or face ID, so only you can open it.
If you’re using a password or PIN, the longer and more complex it is, the more secure your phone will be. You want to make sure it will be harder for anyone to guess – so don’t just pick “1-2-3-4” or “password”.
Password manager
You should also make sure your apps are only accessible via a password, PIN or biometric lock, especially your banking apps and apps that contain your personal details. It’s best to use a different password or PIN for each app, so it won’t be easy for anyone to guess.
Using a password manager will help you to keep track of the various passwords for the apps and websites you use. Secure apps will store your passwords for each app and website, meaning you can have a complex and different password for everything, rather than having one password that’s easy to remember.
Using a password manager also makes it easier if you want to log out of apps and websites, instead of staying logged in. While staying logged in can be more convenient, logging out means that only you can access the information when you log back in.
Secure Wi-Fi
You should make sure you only use secure Wi-Fi on your cell phone. This might mean avoiding using public Wi-Fi, like the kind you might find at airports, train stations or cafes. Public Wi-Fi is typically less secure than the Wi-Fi you use at home, which can make it easier for thieves to access your data.
You should also try to avoid using public charging points. When you connect your phone to a public charging point via USB, you are leaving your phone at risk of hacking. Thieves can leave malware in the charging ports, which can then be transferred to your phone via the USB cable. It’s best to always carry your own portable charger to keep your phone safe while it charges.
Official app stores
When you download apps, you should only use official app stores, such as the Apple App store or the Google Play store. This will ensure you are only downloading legitimate apps and means you can avoid accidentally downloading anything malicious onto your phone.
You should also check the reviews of the apps you download and look at their privacy policy. You should ensure you’re happy with what will happen with your information and what other features the app will have access to before you put it on your phone.
Software updates
Your cell phone will ask you to periodically update the software. This will help to improve the security and keep your phone safe, as well as fix bugs and give you other features.
It’s important to keep your phone’s software up to date to ensure it’s secure. These updates will protect your phone from new threats that have been discovered. You can set your phone to update automatically as and when the new software becomes available, or you can request that your phone notifies you when an update is available, so you can choose a convenient time to download it.
You can check if your phone needs an update by going into the Settings and finding the Software Update or System Update section. If there is an update available, you will be able to download and install it.
Antivirus app
You will probably already have antivirus software on your laptop or PC, but you can also get antivirus apps for your cell phone. Your cell phone is usually at less risk than your laptop or PC, but an antivirus app can add another layer of protection against viruses or hackers.
Many of the antivirus programs that you might have on your PC also have an app version that you can use for your cell phone. They’ll check anything you download to ensure it’s safe and free of malware.
Keep your phone safe with MAGFAST
You can help to keep your phone secure with MAGFAST’s portable chargers, such as MAGFAST Extreme or MAGFAST Life. Our portable chargers have enough charge to keep your cell phone going all day, so you’ll never have to use a public charging point. We even have an Apple watch charger, MAGFAST Time, to help keep you wearable tech charged up. Plus, we use state-of-the-art technology and safety features to ensure your cell phone and other devices are kept safe from overheating or damage.
Attend our demo to find out more about our family of chargers and you could be in with a chance to win $1,000 of premium tech gear!
