In this latest technological era, we have become more and more reliant on our smartphones. Phones have replaced various objects, including notebooks, alarm clocks, TVs, and more. The growing reliance on smartphones also raises a cause for concern. Users tend to secure all their information on their cell phones.
Due to convenience, they save their sensitive credentials and passwords on their notepads without knowing the potential risks of this action. This can be extremely risky. If someone makes their way into your smartphone, it can be devastating for you.
Therefore, you need to keep your phone completely secure at all costs. But, how can you improve your security on your smartphone? Make sure to read this guide all the way to the end to learn 7 effective steps to improve your smartphone security.
Let’s get started.
Steps to Improve Security on your Phone
To heighten the security on your device, you need some steps. Following are some ways you can do this:
1. Get a reliable VPN
The first app you definitely need on your phone is a Virtual Private Network. VPNs are extremely important for your phone for security and privacy purposes.
A VPN keeps your connection completely encrypted and keeps your activities private using its robust security features. A VPN masks your IP address and then creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the website you connect to, so no one can snoop into your connection.
It further offers an AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, no-logs, OpenVPN protocol, and split tunneling to keep you completely secure on your phone. There are multiple VPNs in the industry, including some of the fastest VPN for smartphone users listed by VPNRanks that they can get for their phones.
2. Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is quite an important step that you should take for complete protection. When you log into any of your accounts on your phone, a passcode is sent to your registered phone number or email ID to verify your identity.
This feature is great as it eliminates the possibility of hacking into your device and accounts on your smartphone. The one-time passcode works like a second key and unlocks your account for you. Also, the passcode usually expires within 5-10 minutes, so you need to be quick with it or just get another one.
3. Install an antivirus
All devices, including smartphones, are susceptible to malware attacks. And with the upsurge in malware attacks on mobile devices, you need to ensure your security and protection at all costs.
This is why an appropriate move is to download an antivirus on your smartphone. It’s alright if you want to opt for a free antivirus. Unlike VPNs, free antivirus software isn’t too bad and can be used for malware protection.
4. Update your software
Android or iOS – we always recommend our smartphone users update their software as soon as the latest version or updated OS rolls out. Updating your software seems like a hassle, as it takes a few precious minutes of your time that you can easily spend browsing.
But, software updates are more important than you think. Every update comes with a few vulnerabilities fixed that were present in the previous version. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to spare your time and update your phone’s security.
Some latest Android software security and privacy feature include:
- Scoped storage
- Guest mode
- App permissions for the use of your data
- Google Play protect
- Lock screen limitations
Some latest iOS 15 software security and privacy features include:
- Hide your IP address in Safari
- Limit sharing location to apps
- Mail privacy protection
- Autofil 2 factor authentication codes
- Hide My Email feature
- iCloud Private Relay
5. Use Find My Device
Find My Device and Find My iPhone are also two significant software that protects your smartphones. Find My Device can be easily used to track your phone, lock it, and even erase all the data present on it.
It’s a built-in feature on your Android. So in case you ever lose your smartphone, all you need to do is visit the relevant Find My Device website, sign in using your account, and track your device easily. If you are an Android user, you can enable this feature by going to Android Security Settings > choose Security > toggle the option ‘Find My Device’.
IPhones have a pre-installed app called Find My iPhone that you can access from your home screen. You can use this app to find your iPhone, Apple watch, Air pods, Mac, and AirTag.
6. Try using app locks
App locks and vaults also seem like a hassle but are an additional step to protect your messages, photos, and more completely. In case someone gets to know your phone’s password, you might be at significant risk of a data breach.
App locks secure all the apps that require protection under one password, either on your device’s storage or SD card. In case you or anyone enters the wrong passcode multiple times, app locks/vaults tend to erase all data you secured in it.
7. Secure your phone with a strong password
An easy password is often the root cause of security risks. It can let anyone into your device and allow them to snoop and even steal the sensitive data you saved on it.
Therefore, your password should always be complex. It shouldn’t be your birthdate or a numeric code like ‘0000’. It should be something that no one can easily guess. If your device has a fingerprint sensor then make sure to use a fingerprint local because it offers secure authentication as compared to passwords.
Conclusion
All the steps above will enable you to protect your data and activities on your smartphone. Even though the developers of our phones tend to offer the best services and security possible, there are still some steps you need to take individually. You won’t be able to tighten the security of your device in one day. So, try using all the solutions we mentioned above on your smartphone gradually, and subscribe to a reliable VPN service on priority.