Securing your mobile device
MOBILE devices have become essential tools for our daily lives, as they offer many features and functions that make our tasks easier and faster.
The devices have become essential for productivity, communication and entertainment.
We often use them to browse the internet, schedule appointments, set reminders, share files, chat with friends, make video calls and even manage our finances. However, these devices also face various security risks, both online and offline. Threats that can compromise our data and privacy include malicious software such as worms and spyware, unauthorised access, phishing and theft.
Our discussion for this week focuses on mobile security. It is on protecting devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Mobile security safeguards information and activities on smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables and other portable devices.
It covers specific challenges and risks that mobile computing faces, for example, malware, unauthorised access, phishing, theft and data loss.
Mobile security protects personal and business-related data from cyberattacks and physical threats.
Mobile devices enable us to communicate, work, learn, shop, play and access various online services anytime and anywhere.
However, these devices also expose us to cyber threats, compromising our privacy, security and data.
Our mobile devices store and transmit sensitive data.
Through them, we access our email accounts, social media profiles, banking apps, cloud storage services and other online platforms that contain our personal and financial information.
If your devices are lost, stolen or hacked, this data can fall into the wrong hands and be used for identity theft, fraud, blackmail or other malicious purposes.
Apart from being stolen, mobile devices are also vulnerable to various attacks.
They can be attacked in different ways, such as through malicious apps, phishing messages, network spoofing, ransomware or exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities.
These attacks can infect our devices with malware. Through the attacks, the criminals can steal our credentials, intercept our communications, encrypt our files or damage our systems.
To get the best user experience, mobile devices are connected to other networks and devices.
Always avoid connecting to unsecured or untrusted public Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices
Public Wi-Fi networks
Take extra precautions when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices that may not be secure or trustworthy, as connections can expose our devices to man-inthe-middle attacks or malware infections from other compromised devices.
How do we protect ourselves from mobile device security threats?
To protect ourselves from mobile device security threats, we should follow some best practices: Use strong passwords and biometric authentication.
Strong passwords and biometric features like fingerprint authenticators make unauthorised access nearly impossible.
Your passwords should be eight or more characters long and contain alphanumeric characters.
We should use strong passwords or PINs to lock our devices and prevent unauthorised access.
Additionally, we should enable multi-factor authentication for our online accounts and services to add an extra layer of security.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security feature you should enable on your mobile device if possible.
It provides extra protection to your online accounts and prevents unauthorised access. With 2FA, you must verify your identity with another method besides your password when logging in to certain apps or websites.
This could be a text message, an email link or confirmation from another device where you are already logged in.
Antivirus and anti-malware software
We should instal reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on our devices, and update them regularly.
This software can help us detect and remove any malicious apps or files that may harm our devices or data.
Always avoid connecting to unsecured or untrusted public Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices. They can expose your device to cyberattacks or malware infections.
If you need public Wi-Fi networks, use a VPN to encrypt your traffic and protect your data.
Be wary of phishing messages and malicious links
You should be wary of any messages or links that ask you to provide your personal or financial information, download an attachment or click on a link.
These messages or links may be phishing attempts to trick you into giving away your credentials or installing malware on our devices.
Verify the sender’s identity and the legitimacy of the message or link before responding or clicking.
Beware of phishing scams that claim to offer you a free iPhone from Apple. These fake messages trick you into clicking a malicious link and giving away your personal information.
Apple will never send you such emails or texts, so stay safe and ignore them.
Update your devices and apps regularly
You need to update your devices and apps regularly to fix any bugs or vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. Also, check the app permissions and settings to ensure they do not access more data than necessary. Ensure you have a backup.
Losing your mobile device or having it hacked can be a nightmare. You could lose all your data, including your contacts and precious photos.
That is why you should always have a backup of your data, so you can restore it if something goes wrong. The easiest way to back up your data is to use an automated service that runs when you are not using your phone, such as overnight or in the early morning hours.
You can choose from different backup options such as Google Drive, iCloud and OneDrive.
Mobile device security is essential for protecting our privacy, security and data from cyber threats. Following best practices can reduce the risks of losing or compromising our devices or data.
John Tseriwa is a tech entrepreneur and a digital transformation advocate focusing on delivering business solutions powered by Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. He can be contacted at: info@johntseriwa.com or +263773289802.