Our ever-present smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices bring loads of flexibility and functionality to our everyday lives. Unfortunately, they also bring ever-present danger. Simply put, having our phones on us at all times only heightens our risk of being hacked, especially when using public Wi-Fi; and that’s to say nothing of the risk of data loss due to a stolen or misplaced phone.

The good news is, there are a few simple steps that can help you lock down your devices, enhancing security wherever you happen to take it.

Best Practices for Keeping Mobile Devices Secure

1) Make use of strong passwords and/or biometrics.

Simply put, a robust combination of biometric authentication (such as fingerprint or facial ID) and complex passcodes (preferably eight characters long) can make it extremely difficult for anyone to access your information without your permission.

Also make sure you avoid the features that allow your phone to “remember” passwords and login data. Yes, those features are convenient for you… but that means they’re convenient for potential hackers and data thieves, too.

2) Only use secured Wi-Fis.

Free public Internet is always nice, but keep in mind that not every network has robust security. Before logging on to a public network, use apps that either secure your connection or at least confirm that your connection is safe. WPA and WEP are two of the most common examples.

Using a virtual private network, or VPN, is also recommended. If you’re unsure whether the network you have access to is safe for use, a VPN will not only keep your device secure, but it will also keep your public Internet use private and confidential.

Related: Turn off your phone’s automatic connections to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Not only will this prevent you from inadvertently logging into an unsecured network, but it can also help prevent your device’s battery from draining prematurely!

3) Keep your device up to date.

Another important practice is to keep the firmware on your mobile device up to date. Updating it regularly helps to minimize the risk of major vulnerabilities that hackers might use to breach your device’s security.

Keep in mind that a majority of firmware updates are mostly designed for this exact purpose: Addressing known security gaps. Whether you enable automatic updates or are simply very diligent about updating manually, it’s essential to keep your device in line with the latest firmware patches.

4) Exercise discernment.

Of course, basic discernment goes a long way toward keeping your device safe and secure. In other words:

  • Avoid clicking any links from unknown senders.
  • Don’t download any software from unknown sources.
  • Don’t provide any personal information to unconfirmed sites or users.

Make Device Security a Key Priority

No matter where you go, it’s important to keep device security a top-of-mine priority. With any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the BlueArmor team.