Knowing and Preventing Smartphone Hacking Risks, Part 2

Oct 5, 2020

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on smartphone hacking and how to prevent these risks in your device. While hacking used to be almost exclusively reserved for PCs and laptops, smartphones have become so advanced in recent years that they are also targeted due to how often they’re used to store or transmit personal information. At FixIT Mobile, while many of our cell phone repair services target physical damage areas like screen repair, water damage and related concerns, we’re also happy to help those who are having phone security issues. From updating your phone’s basic security measures to recommending advanced techniques if you have particularly sensitive information to protect, we’ve assisted numerous clients with keeping their data secure. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll look at some of the more basic areas of phone security, then dig into a few advanced techniques for those interested.

Basic Expert and Manufacturer Warnings

Due to the widespread use of smartphones for transmitting information and data, there are numerous security techniques and themes out there. Many of the simplest will be covered by your phone’s manufacturer, or can be sourced from a variety of security experts. These techniques include:

  • Always use a password that only you know for phone access, and keep the phone locked at all times while not in use.

  • Never share your account or phone passwords, and do not save these anywhere in your phone.

  • Install any recommended security software for your phone.

  • Regularly perform operating system updates to maintain security systems and other apps.

  • Don’t share your phone with others or leave it unattended in public.

  • Don’t use unprotected Bluetooth networks – Bluetooth can be notoriously unreliable. We also recommend turning off Bluetooth service when it isn’t in use.

  • Only use protected apps for storing PIN numbers or credit cards if you absolutely must store these on your phone.

Advanced Security Tips

Here are some additional tips we can offer to fortify your phone security:

  • Do not log in to unsecured public WiFi, which is a common target for hackers due to poor security standards.

  • If you have an iPhone, enable the “Find My iPhone” feature in your settings that will allow you to locate it if lose before hackers can get to it.

  • Turn off autocomplete, which limits personal data being stored.

  • Delete browsing history, cookies and cache regularly, just like you would on your PC or laptop.

  • Consider advanced security apps that are available for both iPhones and Android models.

For more on how to protect your phone from hacking risks, or to learn about any of our tablet repair, laptop repair or other device repair services, speak to the staff at FixIT Mobile today.