1. Android

10 tips for securing your phone

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In our busy lives, we sometimes forget to handle our privacy-sensitive files on our phone with care. You are probably also guilty of it on a regular basis. This unconsciously makes us an easy target for hackers and thieves. Do you want to secure your smartphone and ensure that criminals don’t get a chance? These smart tips will help keep your phone safe from being hacked.

  1. Install all updates
    It is very important to keep your phone safe to install updates for your software and apps in a timely manner. As soon as your phone or apps indicate that a software update is ready, we recommend that you install it immediately. Did you know that you can have your phone automatically update apps in the background as soon as you are on WiFi? With Android this can be done via the Play Store app: press the three lines at the top left, go to settings and press ‘Automatically update apps’ and ‘Automatically update apps only via WiFi’. If you have iOS, you can do this via ‘Settings’. Then go to ‘iTunes Store and App Store’ and slide the slider at ‘Updates’ to the right. Also slide the slider ‘Use mobile data’ to the right.
  2. Pay attention to what an app asks for permission for
    When downloading an app, it is wise to pay close attention to what exactly it asks for permission for. You are often given the option to refuse the sharing of your personal information, such as your contact list, photos or Facebook profile. So always think carefully about whether you want this before you agree. The companies behind these apps can also store your data and if you give permission, even use it for other purposes, such as posting contributions on your social media accounts without you realizing it. Get more about vertu signature diamond at lowest prices.
  3. Set up Find My iPhone or Android Device Manager
    Has your smartphone been stolen or lost? Then it can sometimes come in handy if you have a tracking app on your device with which you can track, control and block the device. We recommend that with an iPhone you download ‘Find My iPhone’ (part of iCloud) and with an Android smartphone go to Android Device Manager (via your Google account). Do you have a Windows Phone? Then we advise you to use the ‘Find My Phone’ app to protect your phone against theft. With all these apps, the location of your device is determined on the basis of GPS. This increases the chances of getting your missing smartphone back.
  4. Put your passwords in a vault
    Using the same password everywhere or writing them on a note is risky. But remembering all those countless passwords? That’s almost impossible. To ensure that you can use a unique and strong password everywhere, it is safe to store your passwords in an app that manages all your passwords securely. Apps like Keeper, 1Password, and LastPass are examples of these types of apps. That way you only have to remember one password. That should work, right?
  5. Set up two-step verification for apps
    An extra measure to make your phone even more secure is two-step verification. With this extra security check, hackers and thieves won’t need just your password to access your apps. Fortunately, more and more apps and services (for example Google and WhatsApp) have this extra security option themselves. You perform two steps with two-step verification: first you log in and then the app will send you a unique security code by text message. You will only get access to the app after you have filled it in.
  6. Beware of Public WiFi Networks
    Do you regularly use the public WiFi of your favorite cafe? Or do you always check your missed messages on the airport’s public WiFi? Then be very careful with what you do. Public WiFi networks, and therefore also the actions you perform, are easy to hack. Internet banking, reading your e-mail or opening other privacy-sensitive documents when you are on a public network is therefore not recommended. Switching to 4G or waiting until a later moment is the smartest choice.
  7. Back up your smartphone
    Losing your precious photos, videos, files and settings if your phone is unexpectedly infected with a virus or stolen? You don’t have to think about it. That is why it is important to back up your important files regularly (e.g. weekly). Do you have an iPhone? The easiest way to make a backup is via iCloud. You can set this to happen automatically every day, so that you never lose data. Do you have an Android device? Then making a backup via your Google account is the most convenient. Your data will then be stored in Google Drive.
  8. Set a good PIN code for your SIM card
    Is the PIN of your SIM card still 0000 or 1234? It’s high time for a change! Change your PIN code to a password that is difficult to guess to prevent criminals from easily using your SIM card in the event of theft. You are further away from home if they put the SIM card in another phone and call expensive premium numbers or numbers from abroad. Because of course you are not waiting for sky-high bills. If your SIM card has been stolen, this is annoying enough.
  9. Lock your device with iris scanner, fingerprint scanner and code
    Of course you are not waiting for everyone, including scammers, to be able to access all your photos, contacts or messages without being asked. It goes without saying, but not all of us do it: protect the smartphone with a code. It is even safer to combine this with a fingerprint scan, face scan or iris scan. So you don’t have a code yet? Start securing your smartphone today and set one up from your phone’s settings. Make the code as difficult to hack as possible. Codes like 1234 and your date of birth are too obvious.
  10. Only download apps from the official store
    Finally, it is important to only download apps from the official store of your phone. Apps in the App Store (iOS), Google Play (Android) or Windows Store (Microsoft Windows) have been checked. If you download an uncontrolled app from the internet, it is uncertain whether you will get malware and viruses that hackers can use to get into your phone.
 
 

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