How much do you rely on your smartphone? Well, if you doubt for a second the amount you use it, think of those breath-catching moments when you have misplaced it or dropped it. Shocking how quickly we all panic about our phones, right? Those are the moments you realize that you would have trouble getting through the day without it. Should you then, worry about other risks to your smartphone – take for example viruses or malware? Â
The answer is yes, smartphones need protection as well. Your smartphone is essentially a pocket-sized computer that holds your valuable personal data, important documents and other files. Most likely you do not want some viruses to lay waste to your data. Here are some quick tips that can help keep your smartphone protected.
- Download a mobile security app to catch those pesky “phone viruses.†Your phone’s app store may offer free anti-virus software.
- Be judicious about what apps you download. Download an app or document only if it comes from a trustworthy source, such as your phone’s app store. Downloading apps from third-party websites may put your phone at risk.
- Be careful about where you download apps – are you in a secure area?
- Put a PIN or password on your smartphone and keep it locked when it’s not in use. Your phone may also have a lock pattern feature, fingerprint password or facial-recognition lock.
- Stay away from suspicious websites when browsing the Internet on your phone. Viruses can be installed on your phone through malicious websites. If you receive an unexpected email or text message with a link in it, don’t click on the link.
- Avoid modifying your phone in ways that weren’t intended by the manufacturer. This modification, also called “jailbreaking,” makes it easier for viruses to slip into the device.
- Encrypt the files and data stored on the phone. Some phones have built-in data encryption that protects your data from prying eyes. Encryption usually shields documents, contacts, calendars, media files and email attachments. It also works for data stored on the phone’s memory card.
- Avoid connecting your phone to unsecured wireless networks.