When entering banking applications, e-mail accounts, or when setting passwords, the two-factor identification is commonly used today. First, a text message with a verification code is sent to your mobile and you can perform the required operation only after entering the code. For hackers, however, it is no longer a problem to capture the verification codes on your phone and get into your accounts.
Another way hackers often get into phones is via mobile apps. Malware which is part of free versions of some apps usually helps them. That is how your phone can be infected not only by annoying ads, spyware, viruses, or trojans, but also by scamming software that blocks the data in your phone and asks for money to renew your access to it. At this point, however, it's usually too late to take any action.
Let's take a look at what you can do to make it as hard as possible for hackers to get into your phone. The following recommendations were published by the Security Management International experts at the Harvard Business Review website.
The less personal data in your phone, the better
- After purchasing your phone, change all the factory-set passwords. Don't use easy-to-identify passwords and don't save any passwords to access your online accounts in your phone.
- Install regular updates of your operating system and applications that often include security enhancements.
- Install security software to protect your phone, but only from a trusted provider.
- Think twice about installing apps from unknown sources, especially if they are free of charge. Install apps via App Store, Google Play, or other official sources instead.
- Avoid access to sensitive data, such as banking applications, when you are connected to the Internet using a public Wi-Fi network.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to connect your phone to the Internet.
- Install a security screen that prevents people standing near you from seeing what's on your screen, and set the lock-screen function on your phone while you aren't using it.
- Consider activating automatic erase of the contents of your phone when the access code is entered incorrectly several times.
- Use a special e-mail you do not normally use to verify your identity or change PIN codes.
- When you aren't using the phone, turn off Bluetooth and turn off the phone completely when it comes to a longer period of time (such as traveling).
- Activate the phone's location service to show you where your phone is at the moment when it's lost or stolen.
- Try to keep as little data as possible in your phone. Back your contacts, documents, photos and other private data up on safer devices and delete it from your phone.
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