3 Smartphone Safety Tips to Keep Your Online Data Secure

The smartphone has replaced a typical computer for many people, and there’s little wonder why. After all, a cell phone is smaller, easier to use, and a lot cheaper than most PCs. With a few swipes of your thumb, you’re browsing, watching videos, or shopping online.

But in order to do any of this, you have to host and share data on your phone — much of which is confidential. Now that your smartphone is a treasure trove of private information, it’s important you secure it from potential data thieves.

Here are three simple ways you can protect your smartphone.

1. Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi

If you’re on a limited data plan, you’ve probably stopped in at a coffee shop to pilfer their free Wi-Fi. But you wouldn’t be the only one — and therein lies the problem. Anyone within range can hop onto these unsecured networks and use the Internet.

Most people will be like you, innocently browsing or checking their email. But hackers can also join the network to spy on people’s activity.

These hackers know how to eavesdrop on anyone else using the same network. They can see any information you share over unprotected Wi-Fi, including login credentials.

2. Upgrade Your Secured Network for Important Things

Taxes, paying bills, or applying for loans over the phone — these are the kinds of important things you should only ever do on a secure network. These financial activities require a goldmine of personal data, including your social security number, banking info, and contact details.

In the wrong hands, this data can be used to open fraudulent payday cash loans or lines of credit in your name.

With so much on the line, you’ll want to double down on your network security if you’re trying to get a loan over the phone or pay your bills.

You can improve the security of your home network in a few ways:

• Change your router’s default name and password — this info is readily available online so it’s easy to crack
• Create a strong passphrase in its place
• Keep on top of software updates, as they patch known vulnerabilities

3. Download a VPN

A VPN is an added layer of protection — whether you’re using a public or secure network. Short for a virtual private network, a VPN scrambles your online activity, making it next to impossible to trace.

This kind of encryption protects your browsing activity from anyone who manages to get past your defences. It even shields your data from your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Usually, your ISP tracks all of your browsing history, even if you’re using incognito mode. But a VPN disrupts this process.

A VPN should be on your computer, even if you have nothing to hide. Reports show the average ISP sells their customers’ data to third parties planning to analyze and monetize it.

There’s no way to vet these third parties’ security policies, so there’s a chance your ISP sells your data to a less-than-reputable company, which exposes you to the risk of fraud and identity theft.

Bottom Line

Your smartphone contains a lot of private information that’s ripe for the picking. You can keep it off-limits by following these tips. Use public Wi-Fi sparingly, secure your home network, and invest in a VPN to stay safe on mobile.