Few things are more important than the privacy of our smartphones and having secure smartphone data, but you wouldn’t know it from the way many of us behave.
Taking a cavalier approach to this important issue can be crippling given the way we rely on our smartphones, for the information they reveal about our finances, spending habits and personal aspects of our lives can easily be used to hurt us in any number of ways.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this blog post we’ll discuss the topic of how secure smartphone data they help enable cyber-attacks and what can be done to stop them.
There’s little doubt that attacks on smartphones are on the rise throughout the world. According to a 2021 mobile security report published by Check Point, approximately 40 percent of all mobile phones are vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
That threat extends into the corporate environment as well. That same report cited data to the effect that over 95 percent of companies worldwide had dealt with mobile threats that used multiple attack vectors, and at least one employee in almost 50 percent of those same companies reportedly downloaded a malicious application on their phones.
With the frequency of work-at-home scenarios on the rise, there’s little doubt that those numbers will continue to increase. There are other reasons for this trend, though, so let’s take a look at those.
Some of the security risks individuals take on their smartphones are inadvertent, but others are downright negligent.
Start with those who lose their smartphones. It’s a common occurrence, but smartphones that are lost, stolen or misplaced actually represent the biggest risk to data security.
Why? Lack of follow-up is one reason. People whose phones are stolen often don’t follow up on changing important information like credit card numbers, bank account information, etc., and some those who find their phones are often so happy to recover them that they forget to take the necessary follow-up security steps.
Downloading dangerous apps is high up on the list of risks, too. Most smartphone users rely on the app stores they use to ensure the security of the software they buy, but this approach is sketchy at best.
OS upgrades are often ignored as well. Some people are busy, and others don’t understand how important those updates are, but regardless of the reason, the risk when updates don’t happen is very real.
And then there are the habits of many users. It’s amazing how many people fall for phishing scams, social media cons and other related cyber-attacks, and these approaches are becoming more sophisticated all the time.
Finally, many people neglect to take extra measures to protect their smartphones. Good software products to protect users from viruses, malware and ransomware are available by the dozen at prices that more than justify purchasing them, but many people simply ignore the wisdom of making this kind of investment.
Fortunately, there are many effective ways to enhance the security of your smartphone data. The first is to have an effective password, or use fingerprint detection if your phone has it, and set the lockout timer on your password to prevent cyber thieves from having enough time to hack it.
Data encryption is another way to get the job done, too. Most phones have this as an option, but there are excellent encryption programs that protect your data without inconveniencing the user. Use them.
It’s easy enough to set up a remote phone wipe as well. This allows you to erase all your data from a distance, and you may be able to use a remote wipe to locate your phone, too.
Backup, backup, backup. You’ve heard this before, but it’s incredibly easy to connect your smartphone to a cloud service that automates data backup while encrypting your vital information.
As far as third-party apps go, consider the security aspect of the apps you buy to be the moral equivalent of a trip to the casino. The security might be good, and it might now, but it’s your responsibility to do some homework.
Many users sabotage the innate security of their phones by jailbreaking them or rooting their smartphones if it’s an Android device. This bypasses the built-in security protocols of the phone and increases your risk exponentially.
Along the same lines, don’t ignore updates. They may be inconvenient, but they’re provided for a reason. They help patch security-related bugs, but if you don’t implement them, that means you’re still vulnerable.
While you’re paying attention to the updates, do some research on the latest scams. Phony texts, banking apps that look real, and emails that look innocent are all part of using a smartphone, and it’s up to you to recognize them. If something looks suspect, it probably is.
Pay attention to where you’re doing all this, too. Specifically, we’re talking about public wi-fi-using it is like stepping outside the protection of your security umbrella. It may save your data and save you some time, but is it really worth it if those few minutes and saving a gigabyte or three leads to a major data theft that costs you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to get your old life back?
Finally, add some malware to your smartphone. You’re really carrying around a small computer as you go about your daily life, and the data in it is just as vulnerable as that on your office or home computer.
Moreover, malware is becoming more sophisticated, too. The ongoing game of cops-and-robbers between hackers and security companies is a constant fact of life, and you need to be up on what the security companies are putting out software-wise to help protect you.
While these security procedures may seem like a lot of time-consuming tasks, they’re actually not. Most are simple steps that can be taken in a few minutes, and if they seem overwhelming you can break them down into different areas, e.g., usage habits, software protection, etc.
Security hygiene is easy to learn and implement on any smartphone, and the peace of mind that good security provides is well worth the time to do it and the cost of the software that protects you.
There are other ways to stay protected, too. vivo smartphone data security behave better in the business, and so is the protection that’s offered as part of vivo’s Origin OS Ocean. In addition, vivo provides a blog that gives the tips about vivo smartphone data security issues. It’s well worth signing up for, and you’ll learn a lot about smartphone security in the process.