The ultimate guide for keeping your mobile device protected

Today, it is almost impossible to live without a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. We use these devices for literally everything: calling, texting, accessing the internet, mobile banking, controlling our smart homes, and hundreds of other uses. With a lot of power comes considerable risk and these small gadgets have so much power in our lives, yet face myriad risks that can potentially ruin our lives.

If your mobile is hacked, your social media or bank accounts can be hacked, and both have destructive potential. Which are some of the most common mobile risks?

• Data leaks

Data leaks can wreak havoc by making private data public. Many high-profile people whose devices have fallen into the hands of hackers have had to pay dearly for the leaks. An example of a data leak that exposed over 3 million users’ details is the mobile-only banking app known as Dave.

• Unsecure Wi-Fi

Most people love free Wi-Fi and jump at any opportunity to save their cellular data. Three British politicians in 2015 agreed to take part in a free security experiment that was hacked while using compromised Wi-Fi. Their PayPal, VOIP and social media were all hacked into. This shows how easily a hacker can hack into your device while using it over unsecured networks.

• Improper session handling

Most apps use tokens to make it easier to access mobile transactions. The tokens allow you to perform several actions without having to re-authenticate your identity. Apps generate tokens that allow them to identify and validate devices. A secure app generates a token for every attempt at access or session. Improper handling of sessions is when a session stays open after you have moved on to other sites or apps. The session can be hijacked by a hacker and cause untold damage.

How you can keep your devices secure

The security of your devices should be your priority at all times. Keep hackers at bay by:

1. Installing VPNs

Install a VPN app on your mobile devices to protect your data. A Virtual Private Network secures your device by encrypting your communication via the military-grade 256-bit encryption standard. If you regularly use free Wi-Fi on unsecured networks, a VPN will come in handy as it provides you with a virtual location, hides your IP address, and lets you browse securely and privately.

2. Update your software

All mobile firmware is vulnerable to threats, and hackers continually find new loopholes in the operating system (OS). When your OS prompts you to update, do not ignore the updates. Mobile developers often release updates and make the previous version’s compromised code public. If you do not update, hackers may use the old version’s code to infiltrate your device. You can make the updates manual or automatic, although the latter is advisable.

3. Log out of sessions and download apps from trusted sources.

To prevent anyone from accessing your previous sessions, especially if linked, such as Google apps, make sure you log out immediately when you finish using them. When downloading apps, ensure you only download trusted app stores such as Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

4. Use biometric authentication and strong passwords.

Use strong passwords alongside biometric authentication such as the face, retina, or fingerprint scans. This makes hacking impossible because a hacker would have to kidnap you to use your biometric logins! Ensure your password is alphanumeric, and throw in some symbols as well. Ensure the password is easy for you to remember but difficult for a hacker to break.

5. Use a password manager.

To make it easier for you, use a password manager. The manager generates random passwords and remembers all your passwords for different sites, and you need to memorize the master password for the manager.

Conclusion

Securing your mobile device is critical for preserving your data dignity. A hacker might access your private conversations and blackmail you with exposure. If you give in to blackmail or give the hacker cash, they may never stop, which becomes a vicious cycle. To avoid all this, securing your devices is the way to go.