Here's How You Can Make Your Cell Phone Secure & Protect it From Hackers
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Smartphones are repeatedly the target of criminals. Horror news about data theft from millions of users keeps popping up. But that need not be. We reveal how you can protect your mobile phone from malware, thieves, and overly curious friends.
He is always there for us, supports us at work and during our free time, and knows our deepest secrets - our digital companion: the smartphone. However, it can also quickly happen that the device stabs its owner in the back in the best Brutus fashion. In such cases, however, the user is often to blame. We'll show you how you can protect your cell phone.
PROTECT YOUR MOBILE PHONE LIKE YOUR PC
It is paradoxical: it is firmly anchored in the minds of most users that a computer is vulnerable. It must be protected with antivirus software and links in unknown emails are dangerous. This is everyday life when using a computer. The situation is different with the smartphone, however. Although modern cell phones have a processor, RAM, hard disk, Internet connection, and all the other properties of a standard desktop PC, the small computer is still often viewed and treated as a cell phone. Digital security, in particular, suffers from this - even though smartphones these days can even reveal more sensitive data than their stationary counterpart, the home computer.
Contact data, passwords, saved content, access data for online banking, and location data. This and much more information can be read out by spy apps on smartphones and passed on to third parties. However, this only seems to cause concern for a fraction of users. At least that is what a representative survey by the digital association Bitkom published in early 2021 suggests. According to this, only 43 percent of those surveyed use an anti-virus program on their mobile phones. And this even though in 2018 every third smartphone user aged 16 and over (35 percent) fell victim to malware (espionage programs) within twelve months.
MINIMIZE MALWARE RISK & CLOSE SECURITY GAPS
The number of devices infected with a virus is worrying. Still, there is good news, as you can protect your phone from all kinds of attacks without too much effort. In this guide, we explain what exactly needs to be done for this and what users should generally pay attention to increase the security of their smartphone.
PROTECT YOUR MOBILE PHONE FROM MALWARE, DIGITAL DATA THEFT FROM THESE 8 TIPS
1: Virus protection: Antivirus & firewall software
One of the most effective and at the same time simplest ways to protect your smartphone from viruses is an antivirus app. These offer, for example, a virus scanner that scans files and applications on the cell phone and checks them for malware. The virus scanner is part of the basic equipment and is therefore available with all antivirus software. If you also have the necessary change, you can also buy a paid antivirus program with integrated real-time protection. This recognizes viruses like spy apps in real-time and initiates immediate countermeasures.
Another security function that can land as an app on the mobile phone in a few seconds is the firewall. It monitors the network activities of all applications and can also prevent a connection if necessary. The user has control over the flow of data on his smartphone. However, it should not be forgotten that such a firewall initially requires manual entries. Otherwise, it may block all existing applications - regardless of whether they are spy apps, malware or simply the WhatsApp messenger. Furthermore, such applications can mostly only be found for Android cell phones. Those who do not rely on the Google operating system, but on Apple's iOS, are at a disadvantage here.
2: Security in public WiFi networks
Whether in a cafe, in a shopping center, or in a hotel - public WLAN networks are convenient, often free of charge, and help to conserve the data volume included in the tariff. The problem with it: You are vulnerable to cyber criminals who can spy on your data traffic. Online banking in public networks is therefore an absolute taboo. Data connections that are not protected by an HTTPS certificate (recognizable by the URL) should also be avoided as far as possible. If you want to protect yourself additionally, you should also use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This routes the connection to the network via their VPN server, change the IP address in the process and thus increase anonymity in the global data network.
Also, the transmitted information is encrypted, depending on the VPN provider. This makes the work extremely difficult for uninvited viewers. However, users have to pay attention to which VPN provider they choose. Because the services offered and the level of protection differ greatly from one another. Most free VPNs, for example, offer less protection or even save some data themselves. In the worst case, the VPN itself would be a kind of spy app.
3: carry out regular security updates
Manufacturers of both Apple's iPhones and Android devices distribute so-called security updates at irregular intervals. These close various security gaps and improve virus protection. However, there are major differences that occur depending on the selected operating system and manufacturer. While Apple iPhones regularly and over a long period with security updates, the situation is largely different with Android smartphones. The company publishes monthly security patches behind Android, Alphabet, and Google. However, these must first be adopted by each manufacturer to the user interface of the model in question. This in turn costs both time and money, so that cheaper devices from unknown manufacturers rarely receive regular updates. With established manufacturers of Android smartphones such as Huawei or Samsung things look better. But here too, Google's security updates are usually discontinued after two to three years at the latest. In this category, iPhone users are ahead.
Furthermore, when buying - whether used or in stores - users should pay attention to when the respective smartphone appeared on the market. Because the usually two-year update period does not start with the purchase of the mobile phone, but with its release. Of course, there is no clear rule here - at least not yet. At that time, the EU intended to introduce regulations that would oblige manufacturers by law to distribute updates for their electronic products. However, the regulation has not yet been implemented.
4: Do not allow applications from unknown sources
Another point that affects Android users, in particular, is installing apps from unknown sources. An application APK (Android Package) is simply downloaded from the Internet (for example using a browser) and manually installed on the smartphone. This way, Google's Play Store control can be bypassed. This allows the user to personalize the mobile phone as they wish. At least if the developer of the app and the website from which the installer is downloaded can be trusted.
Otherwise, it can quickly happen that the mobile phone is not only not protected, but also that malware is installed on its own. If you are not 100 percent sure that the application is free of viruses or spy tools, you should leave the Android setting "Allow apps from unknown sources" disabled. And even if the app is trustworthy, it is advisable to turn the aforementioned setting off again immediately after installation. This has to be done individually for each application or each browser.
5: check app permissions
Aside from viruses, a large amount of user data can also reach third parties in another, (semi) official way: via apps that are available in the App Store and Play Store but are nevertheless dubious. These can often be recognized by the fact that they require more authorizations than they need for their functionality. Fortunately, you can check the exact permissions for each application in the smartphone settings on both Android (Google) and iOS (Apple). If, for example, a calculator app wants to have access to the contact list or the location, this is a reason to become suspicious. Such authorizations can be withdrawn from individual applications in the settings. You will then only receive the information that you need.
Tip: Well-known browsers such as Chrome from Google or Edge from Microsoft are not the best choice when it comes to data protection. The alternatives from DuckDuckGo and Tor are much better suited to protecting your privacy. You can find more information on the subject in our guide to Android browsers.
6: screen lock and SIM card lock
Aside from the digital dangers that the “World Wide Web” brings with it, you should also protect your smartphone from physical attacks by cybercriminals and curious friends. One of the simplest measures here is to first lock the screen. This is the first and possibly the most important protective barrier. It is well known and most users use it. But here, too, there are a few things to consider to ensure good protection. Locking with a PIN code is and will remain the safest way to protect the data behind the display. If you prefer the pattern unlock, it is advisable to make sure that you turn off the visibility of the lines that arise when drawing the pattern. This minimizes the risk
Modern devices also offer to unlock using biometric data - i.e. fingerprint sensors, face recognition, or iris scanners. In terms of security, however, these are also subject to the customary password or PIN code. You also have to deactivate notifications from important applications, such as mobile banking apps or, under certain circumstances, instant messaging services such as WhatsApp, on the lock screen.
In addition to the screen lock, users should also protect the SIM card - if the lock is not already set up anyway. There is little to do with a protected SIM card. Even if it is inserted into another smartphone. The lock itself can be easily activated or deactivated in the settings. However, if your cell phone and/or SIM card are stolen, it is still advisable to contact the provider as well.
Guest mode
And last but not least: In the settings of Android devices there is a so-called guest mode under "User". Like on the computer, this allows you to set up a second or third account on the same smartphone. If a friend asks you for your cell phone, for example, because they want to use the browser, you can switch accounts with just one click and protect your privacy.
7: find a stolen or lost cell phone
None of the measures already listed are of little help if the smartphone slips out of your pocket unnoticed or a thief gets his hands on it. In this case, however, there are also some ways to solve the problem with a little luck. Both iPhones and Android devices offer functions to query the location, lock the cell phone remotely, or delete all data. A corresponding guide explains how this can be done.
However, there are also some restrictions. For the device to be found, it must be connected to the Internet and the location services must be activated. These problems can be solved with anti-theft software, as well as some antivirus programs. The functionality is quite similar here, but you can also send SMS commands to the missing cell phone. In this way, you can remotely switch on functions such as the internet connection or location tracking - even without first rooting the smartphone.
Such anti-theft apps offer quite a high level of protection, but they are not ideal either. Such applications, like their official iOS and Android counterparts, must have been set up before the theft. A display lock is also recommended here because otherwise, thieves can simply switch off the functions and thus counteract any remote access. Finally, the owner should act quickly. Because once the battery runs out, there isn't much that can be done.
Find cell phone
8: Be careful with USB and Bluetooth connections
Although the risk of getting malware or spy apps onto the cell phone via USB connection is quite low, it does exist. Therefore, in the best-case scenario, you should only connect your smartphone to trustworthy computers. If you want to charge your device, you should also make sure that only the power and not the data connection is activated in the settings that appear when the cable is plugged in. Alternatively, a so-called "USB condom" can also help here, which as an adapter also does not allow a data connection. The same applies to wireless connections such as Bluetooth. To ensure that the mobile phone is protected, it must remain switched off when it is not currently needed.
IF YOU PAY ATTENTION, YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR CELL PHONE
All of the protective measures mentioned can be of great help when it comes to protecting an operating system from viruses, malware, spy apps, and other dangers and generally increasing smartphone security. However, none of this helps much if the user is not paying attention himself. For example, anyone who receives an email from a Nigerian prince should remain critical. And not every URL address contained in a WhatsApp chain letter has to be visited. The greatest contribution to the protection of a smartphone is still made by the owner himself.