Smart phones are really more computer than phone, and with so much of our personal information on these devices, they have become targets for identity thieves. Cell phones used to be only good for making calls and that’s it, but now any smart phone can allow you to check your email, tweet a message, send a text message, and even transfer money from your bank account. And while all of this makes life more convenient, it also makes us more vulnerable to having our personal information compromised.
Here are a few helpful tips for making sure the information on your mobile phone does not fall into the wrong hands.
Keep your phone on you at all times
This might sound like an obvious tip, but the average cell phone user loses their phone on a regular basis, even if it’s just for a couple minutes. It’s easy to set your phone down somewhere and then completely forget where you put it. That lapse of time is all a crook needs to steal your information so be extra vigilant about keeping your phone within site, and preferably within reach.
Turn off your phone’s WiFi when in public places
The WiFi threat is one that many smart phone users don’t even know about, and that makes this point even more important. Some phones will automatically connect to a public WiFi connection if it finds one. The problem is that some hackers will set up a phony hotspot and when your phone connects they will be able to access information like your contact list and messages, and any other information that is stored on your phone. Make sure your WiFi is off unless you turn it on yourself, and then make sure that the hotspot you are connecting to is safe and secure.
Surf the internet using your phone’s cellular signal
This goes along with the point above but it deserves mention. It is much more secure to just use your phone signal to surf the internet and check your email rather than using an open wireless signal. And with 3G and 4G technology becoming more accessible these speeds are almost as fast as a WiFi connection anyway. Even if you access the internet through a public hotpot you think is safe, some hackers have the capability of intercepting the information going in and out of your phone.
Only download apps you can trust
Apple and Google are fairly strict about what apps they let into the market place, but you still need to be cautious, especially on the Android marketplace. Certain apps access parts of your phone that you may be unaware of, so even if they do not cause you any harm, you should know about any vulnerabilities. You should always download apps through the official marketplace and not from any random website as well.
Lock your phone’s screen when not in use
Most smart phones have the ability to lock the screen down when it has been lying dormant for a while. But some of us get tired of having to enter our secret code combination all the time and turn it off. Fight this temptation. If you ever lose your phone or someone else happens to pick it up it will make it much harder for them to access your phone’s private data.
Use an app for finding your phone
It’s a real pain when you lose your phone, but it’s easier than ever to find it. Most smart phones have a “Find My Phone†app that will allow you to use your phone’s GPS to be able to track it down. Just be careful. If someone knowingly stole your phone they will not be happy to see you at their door, and you may need some assistance from the police. But most of the time a phone is lost because of a lapse in common sense and an app like this helps to keep your phone from falling into the wrong hands.
Jon is a writer for www.SafeIdentityProtection.com which is a resource for consumers that want to read Lifelock reviews and learn how to find the best identity theft protection services.
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