How much data do you keep on your phone? Do you have your passwords stored in a nifty note app? Do you have your phone?s browser on auto-fill mode to save you time when you?re trying to log-in on websites? Do you often jot down important tasks, personal details, and other information on your phone? Do you have personal photos that are ?too? personal?
If you answered yes to at least one of the questions above, then you may also have a dread of losing your phone or have experienced worrying about identity theft and data leak when you thought that you?ve lost it when you?ve simply misplaced it.
Truth is, we all carry sensitive information in our pockets these days. There is no avoiding using your phone because with the convenience offered by smartphones, we use our phones for more than just calling and texting. Most of us use our phones for all manners of communication. Chat, emails, voice messages, photo messages, data storage, calls, you name it. While this makes modern messaging and communication a lot easier, this also presents a huge risk if you lose your phone or if it gets stolen. Below are some fail safes you can implement to reduce your mobile risks.
Do Not Use Auto-Fill in Browsers
If your phone gets compromised or stolen, there is no telling what type of persons will get their hands on your phone. Unauthorized users will have no problem logging-in at your accounts if all they have to do is go to a website and voila! Your phone logs them in! An unscrupulous individual can then access your personal details and even clean out your bank account before you can file a report. Make sure all passwords are not in auto-fill mode and use a secure password manager if you must store them on your phone.
Encrypt Data That You Save
First of all, refrain from saving information that you won?t need in the future, more so if it a sensitive one that can be used against you (such as ?very? personal photos). As for data that you want to save, make sure that it is encrypted from downloading, storing, or uploading it.
Refrain from Using Public Wi-fi
Information that you send out and receive via public wi-fi can be accessed by other individuals who are also connected to the network. If you must, such as when you are at an airport, use a VPN (virtual private network) and use https on your browser when browsing websites.
Have a Passcode for Your Device(s)
A unique password or a PIN for your phone is a must. The data you have stored on your phone is far more valuable than what you probably have on your laptop or office computer so be sure to have it safe.? Speaking of passwords, also have one for your computer or tablet to be on the safe side.
Activate Two-Factor Authentication
2FA is one of the best security adaptations developed recently. With this, signing-in on some online accounts would require codes that will be sent to your email and phone (or another device). If you lose your phone, other people won?t be able to access your saved accounts even if they have the password because you have another layer of security on.
Find Out How to Wipe Your Devices Clean Remotely
Both Android and Apple now support a remote wiping feature. This allows you, as the administrator, to send a command from another device that will wipe the data on your stolen phone or lost phone.
Whether you are a business or an individual, safeguarding your data is of utmost importance. If you need more information on mobile safety or would like some help with it, feel free to contact Haywood Hunt. We?re not just the premier private investigators in Toronto, we also help individuals and companies with data security and internet safety.
