We all know about the risk of viruses on the PC, but are as many of us aware of the most common smartphone security risks? The truth is that you need to be careful with the data you input into your smartphone. After all, many of us now use our phones for banking, online shopping, emailing and so on. This leaves us at risk of identity theft, password theft, hacking and more.

Here are 7 smartphone security tips to help keep you and your data safe:

1. Don’t Connect To Unknown Wi-Fi Hotspots: If you don’t trust a Wi-Fi connection, don’t try to connect to it. These are often used by others who want to get hold of your details or any data you send and receive while connected.

2. Many smart phones include features to help you find them if you lose them. You can generally log in and pinpoint your phone on a map, or get it to play a loud sound. However, such tools also allow you to remotely wipe data from your phone – so if it falls into the wrong hands, at least you can safely erase any sensitive data from it.

3. Put a passcode on your handset. Most smart phones have an option which forces you to enter a PIN or password before you can unlock the handset, whether this is on boot up, or a pin you need to enter every time you wake the phone from sleep. It may seem simple but it’s the best place to start!

4. Back Up: Number one is to make sure you back up your data regularly. This means that, should anything happen, you’ll never lose all of your contact, messages, files and apps that you downloaded.

5. Be Careful When Downloading Apps: Never download applications from untrusted sources. You’re usually safe when using the app marketplace that comes with your phone, rather than downloading directly from websites.

6. Beware Of Text Message Links: If you receive a text message from someone you don’t know, don’t click any links inside it! These can be used for phishing – don’t think that this is limited to computers only. Many people have become victims of such attacks simply because they didn’t think smartphone security was as important as PC security.

7. Download All Updates: Lastly, always download any official updates that the manufacturer or operating system developer releases. These can help mask any security flaws, preventing any known or new risks that may develop.

 

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