Mobile devices are our everything. We practically never let them out of our hands, storing contacts, messages, photos and videos, account passwords, bank card details, and copies of documents there. What can we do to keep all this out of the hands of cybercriminals?
Hacking or losing your mobile device can lead to serious problems. Unauthorized people can access your bank accounts, personal information, medical data, send messages to your family and friends, or simply encrypt or delete your data.
The worst part is, you might not even know that cybercriminals have hacked your mobile device and are monitoring your activity. But sometimes, the hack can be detected. There's cause for concern if your device:
What should you do if you notice these signs on your smartphone or tablet?
And of course, if you decide to sell or give away your mobile device, don't forget to remove any additional flash memory, erase all data, and reset it to factory settings to prevent your personal information from being accessible to the next owner.
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Hacking or losing your mobile device can lead to serious problems. Unauthorized people can access your bank accounts, personal information, medical data, send messages to your family and friends, or simply encrypt or delete your data.
The worst part is, you might not even know that cybercriminals have hacked your mobile device and are monitoring your activity. But sometimes, the hack can be detected. There's cause for concern if your device:
- it started to overheat, the battery drains too quickly;
- it started working slowly;
- started showing too many ads, pop-ups, etc.;
- launches applications itself or, on the contrary, prevents them from launching.
What should you do if you notice these signs on your smartphone or tablet?
- Run an antivirus scan. Free programs don't always keep up with new viruses, or their functionality is limited. Therefore, it's best to use a commercial antivirus from a reputable brand.
- If your antivirus detects malware, you should block any bank cards stored on your device and change the passwords for all your accounts.
- If your device continues to function incorrectly after removing the malware, you'll need to perform a factory reset. Remember, however, to back up your data before doing this, as all information will be lost after the reset.
To prevent problems, you need to follow the rules of cyber hygiene:
- Set up a screen lock on your mobile device. It's best to use a strong password or biometric authentication using your finger or face (Touch ID, Face ID). Also, disable notifications on the lock screen — this way, if you lose your device, someone else won't be able to use it or see your incoming messages.
- Disable the "Make visible to other devices" feature in Bluetooth settings. Turn off Bluetooth when you're not using it to prevent cybercriminals from gaining access to your device.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and NFC when not in use. Avoid using public Wi-Fi.
- Install apps only from trusted sources (App Store, Google Play). Uninstall apps you don't use.
- Many apps ask for permission to access information on your device. Try not to grant such permission unless absolutely necessary. Or find an alternative app from a less inquisitive developer.
- Regularly update both your operating system and applications — updates fix bugs and vulnerabilities.
- Regularly back up the information stored on your device.
- Disable geolocation for photos. Use it only when absolutely necessary.
- Don't disable the Find My Device feature — it will help you locate your device if you lose it, or if that's not possible, delete data from it.
And of course, if you decide to sell or give away your mobile device, don't forget to remove any additional flash memory, erase all data, and reset it to factory settings to prevent your personal information from being accessible to the next owner.
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