Are you planning a trip? Whether you’ll be traveling for a day or a month, cell phone cybersecurity is now something to consider even before you leave home.
Update, update, update
To begin with, update your mobile software. Phones, tablets, and other mobile devices are just small computers. This means keeping your apps and operating system current.
Does your device back up to the cloud or to your computer? There are additional risks to loss or theft of your device while you’re traveling, so it’s a good idea to make sure everything is backed up before you leave.
Lock down your phone
The first way to lock down your phone is the obvious one—don’t leave it alone for even a few seconds. I take the additional step of setting my iPhone to lock itself after one minute of inactivity.
I originally started locking down my phone to conserve the battery life back when I was on an Android device. These days, the battery is less of a concern than my security. So, as much trouble as it seems to be continually unlocking the phone, I see it as insurance. If a thief somehow does get my phone, it will be locked and there’s not much he’ll be able to do about it.
Guard your data
By now, who hasn’t seen at least one TV show or movie in which someone uses spyware to hack someone else’s phone? While this type of cell phone cybersecurity threat was once considered the stuff of science fiction, the spyware is now readily available on the market.
But, there’s an even easier way a hacker can access your phone or computer and it’s called WiFi. Connecting to unknown WiFi networks is a high-risk game. Always be sure of what network you’re connecting to. This is especially important when traveling because all the networks will be different. So, confirm which network you can safely connect to before you click that connect button.
For more information about cell phone cybersecurity, download this free information sheet from the Department of Homeland Security.
“Sound” advice, Terry. Thanks.
–Michael