The world of cyber security is a dangerous one – and it’s only getting more complicated. With the growing number of mobile devices in use today, as well as the increasing dependence upon those same devices for work and play, there is an increased chance that any given device could be hacked or infected with malware. There are many ways to combat this threat: from ensuring your data is backed up regularly to installing antivirus software on your phone or tablet. This blog post will cover some of the ways you can keep your mobile devices safe from cyber attacks.
Always Update Your Apps
Make sure any apps on your phone or tablet are updated. As highlighted by the team behind Binarapps, keeping the apps up-to-date ensures that you have the latest security patches and bug fixes, which protect against new viruses and malware introduced into the wild every day.
If an update is available for one of your mobile apps, you should receive a notification when opening it. You can also look for updates in your phone or tablet’s app store, typically found within the device’s settings.
Install Antivirus Software on Your Mobile Devices
In addition to keeping your apps up-to-date, you should install antivirus software on your mobile devices. This is a good idea even if you already have an app that provides updates for the latest security patches and bug fixes – because no single program will protect against all threats.
Installing an antivirus program on your phone or tablet will help protect against viruses that are spread through downloads, attachments within emails and other messages, browsing the web (both online and in mobile apps), social media interactions, file-sharing networks like Dropbox. Therefore, even if your device is already protected by an app that updates regularly, you should still install antivirus software as well.
When it comes to choosing the right antivirus program for your mobile devices, there are a few things you should look for: make sure the program has been certified by at least one of the major security companies.
Delete Any App that You No Longer Use
While many mobile users download apps to their devices simply because they’re free, this is not the only reason you should keep an app installed on your phone or tablet. You can save space and improve performance by removing unused apps – especially those that use up a lot of battery life.
If you want to remove an app from your device, you can do so by going to your phone or tablet’s settings and finding the app under “Device.” From there, tap on it to open its page. If an app offers an “Uninstall Updates” option, select that – as this will remove only updates for the program and not any of your data, such as login information and saved files.
Turn Off Location Services on Social Media Apps When Not in Use
Many social media apps, such as Facebook and Twitter, use your phone’s location services to share where you are with friends. However, this is an unnecessary feature when the app isn’t actively being used – so you should turn it off to protect your privacy.
To turn off location services on a mobile device, go into your phone or tablet’s settings and click on the “Privacy & Safety” option under “Location Services. Once there, you can disable this feature for any apps that don’t need it. This should help improve your battery life as well.
Use a Password Manager to Create Complex Passwords For All of Your App Accounts
Creating a strong password is one of the best ways to prevent cybercriminals from hacking into your accounts – and that’s why it’s essential to use a password manager. The most popular management software can generate passwords for you using complex combinations of letters and numbers.
However, you should note that if you have a habit of forgetting passwords to your mobile apps, this could create problems. Therefore, it’s essential to choose an app password manager based on its ability to store login credentials for web-based programs and the apps installed on your phone or tablet.
Avoid Using Public WiFi Networks Without a VPN Connection
WiFi networks are one of the best ways to make sure you can connect your phone or tablet to the internet – and many public places like airports, cafes, and restaurants provide free WiFi hotspots for their customers. However, this convenience comes with a significant security risk: hackers could intercept data transmitted between your device and the wireless router if they’re able to access the network.
To avoid this issue and protect your privacy, you should always connect to a VPN (a virtual private network) when using public WiFi networks. There are several factors you need to watch when choosing a VPN to ensure you get the right one for your device. This is crucial if you’re conducting sensitive transactions like online banking or shopping on eCommerce websites that don’t offer secure connections. A good VPN will encrypt all data transmitted between your device and the VPN server, making it impossible for hackers to see this information.
Keep Your Phone Locked With a Passcode or Biometric Protection at All Times
In addition to using a VPN, you should also keep your device locked with either a passcode or biometric protection – such as a touch ID on an iPhone or scanning your fingerprint on certain Android devices.
Many mobile users have the habit of going out with their phone in hand and leaving it unlocked for convenience’s sake. However, this makes it easy for a stranger to take your phone and see all of the information stored on it.
To prevent this from happening, turn on “Auto-Lock” in your device settings so that the screen locks itself after being idle for a certain amount of time – typically about 30 seconds or one minute. This will help keep you protected even if you forget to lock your screen.
There are several ways to make sure your mobile apps are safe from cyber-attacks. One of the best things you can do is turn off location services on social media applications when not in use, as well as using a password manager to create complex passwords for all of your app accounts, avoiding public WiFi networks without a VPN connection, and keeping your phone locked with a passcode or biometric protection at all times. Ensure that you follow these ways to keep your apps safe from cyber-attacks.
