How to protect your smartphone from surveillance and data theft
Miscellaneous / / October 09, 2023
11 basic tips to make you worry a little less about your personal data.
Smartphones contain a lot of important things: documents, banking applications, work correspondence, private photos, contacts and other information that scammers can use for their own purposes. Add to this surveillance by global corporations that record your browser queries, online purchases and likes, and you get an impressive dossier.
It is unlikely that you will be able to stop using your smartphone and some applications, but you can try to reduce the risk of leakage. Our tips will help with this.
1. Set up a smartphone lock
For many, this is an obvious base, but some users neglect this method of protection.
Set up fingerprint login or face unlock. If you don’t trust biometrics, set a password or at least a PIN code. On Android, this is done in the settings of the “Screen lock” section, and on iPhone - through “Face ID and passcode”. It’s also worth turning on auto-lock after 5-10 seconds of inactivity.
2. Control application rights
When you first launch each new application, the system may request permissions for it to access the microphone, camera, memory, geolocation, and contacts. Do not give away such rights thoughtlessly, just to enable the program as quickly as possible. Some permissions may not be needed for correct operation, but solely for data collection or advertising.
Think about whether it is necessary, for example, file manager access to geolocation? The application is quite capable of working without it, and if it refuses, you should think about its reliability.
3. Install antivirus
Modern versions of mobile operating systems have built-in protection against malware. But separate antivirus It definitely won’t hurt if you are afraid of spyware and often download something. This is especially true for open Android.
You can pay attention to Avast Mobile Security, Norton Mobile Security or McAfee Mobile Security. Each of them has its own pros and cons, but the main thing is that they constantly update their malware databases, which means their chances of finding a new Trojan are high.
Avast Software
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NortonMobile
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McAfee LLC
Price: Free
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McAfee Mobile Security is also available for iPhone, although the feature set differs from the Android version due to the limitations and closed nature of the iOS system. However, as another line of defense against phishing and other cyber attacks the program may be useful.
McAfee, LLC.
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4. Use password managers
It is optimal when each site, application and account has a unique complex password. It is hardly possible to remember them all. Writing in a notebook is unreliable. In this situation, password managers will help out because they will encrypt all your complex combinations of characters and hide them behind a master password.
Proven options🔐
- 9 best password managers according to Lifehacker
5. Choose a messenger with end-to-end encryption by default
A lot of confidential information can be stored in messenger chats: photographs of documents, scans of work contracts, nudes. It is better to send all this through a reliable and secure service that supports end-to-end encryption.
This encryption will prevent other programs and third parties from gaining access to your data. That is, no one will intercept your message on the way to the addressee, and it will only be visible to participants in the correspondence. This is the most important security indicator for the messenger.
This type of protection is supported, for example, by Signal and Viber, where end-to-end encryption for both personal and group chats is enabled by default.
6. Protect your email
To protect your mailbox from intruders, you can use secure email services, extensions and encryption utilities, and be sure to activate two-factor authentication.
More tips📩
- How to protect email correspondence: 6 tips
7. Use blocking apps
If you want to put an additional barrier of protection only on a certain application, then blocking programs like Applock and its analogues will be useful to you. This is an excellent option in case there is a risk that someone will unlock your gadget and start looking for something.
In Applock you can set a password or close a gallery, messenger, social network or, for example, an email service with a fingerprint. This “lock” will need to be opened every time it starts.
SpSoft
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InShot Inc.
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The analogue for iPhone is Folder Lock. But you can also block access to photos, notes and other data. through "Automation".
NewSoftwares.net
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8. Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use
If you are very concerned about your privacy or have very valuable data on your smartphone, then turn off Bluetooth when not needed. In theory, this communication channel could well be used to steal data and surveillance, Therefore, you definitely shouldn’t neglect the advice.
And of course, never accept a request to connect to a device that is unfamiliar to you. Same with Wi‑Fi networks - do not connect to public access points in public places. All wireless connections in such a network can be monitored by analyzer programs. With their help, attackers can easily obtain confidential data such as usernames and passwords.
9. Use a private browser
To maintain the confidentiality of web surfing, you should switch to a private browser, which will protect you from targeted advertising and the annoying attention of search engines. On Android such a lot — choose any one taking into account your search scenarios.
The same Firefox Focus, InBrowser and DuckDuckGo are available on iOS.
Mozilla
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Private Internet Access, Inc.
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DuckDuckGo, Inc.
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10. Install a VPN
If you don't really need a private browser, you should at least make friends with a VPN. Many services offer servers in different countries and allow you to mask your IP address for secure and anonymous data transfer.
And if someone convinces you that it is through VPN that all personal data leaks, do not believe them. myths. Such services provide additional protection and make surveillance and access to the device much more difficult.
11. Don't miss updates
Updates to applications and the system as a whole are not only about new functions and bug fixes, but also about closing holes. Don't ignore updates or delay installing them to prevent attackers from exploiting new vulnerabilities.
Protect yourself from scammers📱🌚📱
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