A smartphone is the most widely used electronic device in daily life for many of us. The days of mobile phones being mainly used to call someone or send a text message are long gone – now, they operate as portable computers, with a vast array of apps for everything from social networking to online banking. The extent to which we rely on our phones, plus the amount of data they contain, means that phone security is crucial.
As our reliance on mobile devices has increased, so too have mobile security threats. Read on to learn more about phone security and how to protect your phone.
Some of the main phone security threats include:
Malicious apps and websites
Mobile malware (i.e., malicious applications) and malicious websites can achieve the same aims – such as stealing data and encrypting data – on mobile phones as on traditional computers. Malicious apps come in different forms – the most common are trojans that perform ad and click scams.
Mobile ransomware is malware used to lock users out of their mobile device and demand a ransom payment, usually in cryptocurrency. The increased use of mobile devices for business has made ransomware a more common and damaging malware variant.
On desktop or laptop computers, most phishing attacks start with an email that includes a malicious link or an attachment containing malware. However, on mobile devices, emails account for only 15% of phishing attacks. Most mobile phishing attempts occur via SMS messaging, social media, or other applications.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks involve an attacker intercepting network communications so they can eavesdrop on or modify the data being transmitted. While this type of attack is possible on different systems, mobile devices are especially susceptible. Unlike web traffic that typically uses encrypted HTTPS for communication, SMS messages can be easily intercepted, and mobile applications may use unencrypted HTTP when potentially sensitive data is being transferred.
Jailbreaking and rooting
Jailbreaking and rooting refer to gaining administrator access to iOS and Android mobile devices. Mobile users may jailbreak or root their devices to delete unwanted default apps or install apps from untrusted app stores – but doing this carries risk. Increased permissions can enable attackers to access data and therefore cause damage.
Spyware can collect or use private data without your knowledge or approval. Data commonly targeted by spyware includes phone call history, text messages, user location, browser history, contact list, email, and private photos. Cybercriminals could use this stolen information for identity theft or financial fraud.
A common question in phone security is whether iPhones are safer than Android. A critical difference between the two is that iOS is a closed operating system, whereas Android is used by various manufacturers. This means that Apple doesn't share its source code, reducing the chances of attackers finding vulnerabilities in its system. Because of this, many believe that iOS is a safer operating system. Regardless, there's no way to be completely safe, even if you own an Apple phone – so understanding phone security and how to protect your phone remains essential.
Bear in mind that older phones are less secure than newer ones. For example, earlier iPhones no longer receive security updates. If you're using an old smartphone, upgrading to a newer model will help increase your phone security.
If you want to know how to protect your phone, essential smartphone security tips include:
Keep your phone locked
If your device is stolen, the thief could obtain access to your personal information. To prevent this, it’s important to have a lock on your screen. Whether this is a passcode, pattern, fingerprint, or face recognition depends on your preferences and your device’s capabilities.
You can usually specify how long the phone can be idle before locking when enabling a lock screen. Choose the shortest amount of time to increase your phone security. You are protected because the screen locks automatically even if you forget to lock it yourself. It will also conserve your battery because the screen goes dark after a set period of inactivity.
Setting this up is straightforward. For most Android devices, you can find instructions within Location & Security Settings. For iOS users, check within the General options of your settings.
Create a strong password for your phone and apps
Create a strong password for your smartphone. If a password attempt fails a certain number of times, the phone will lock, disable, and in some cases even erase all data. Surveys show that many business users don’t change the default passwords on their mobile devices or use multi-factor authentication. Weak passwords can place an entire organization at risk.
It’s also a good idea to set strong passwords for your apps – this will make it harder for a hacker to guess them. Using unique passwords for each app will ensure that the hacker won't have access to all your information across the board if one password is discovered.
Be wary of text messages
Text messages are an easy target for mobile malware, so avoid sending sensitive data such as credit card details or important private information by text. Equally, be cautious about text messages you receive.
Smishing (phishing via text) and vishing (voice phishing that takes place over the phone) are popular ways to target mobile phone users. A smishing victim may receive a text message that appears to be from a business, prompting them to call a number and disclose secure account information to address an issue with their account. If you receive emails or texts which appear to be from a business asking you to confirm or update account information, contact that business directly to confirm the request. Avoid tapping links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Check your browser for the lock symbol
The lock icon in the browser's address bar indicates that you are on a secure connection and that the website you are using has an up-to-date security certificate. Look out for this when entering personal data such as your address or payment information or sending emails from your mobile browser.
Ensure your apps are from reputable sources
Always download apps from official app stores. Google and Apple test every app before it is allowed into the Play Store or App Store, which means downloading an app from an official store is less risky than obtaining them from elsewhere. Cybercriminals create fake mobile apps that mimic trusted brands so they can obtain users’ confidential information. To avoid this trap, read app reviews and check the developer's last update and contact information. These details should be available within the app information on the store. Deleting apps you no longer use or want is also good practice.
Keep your device’s OS up-to-date
From performance to security, mobile phone operating system updates are designed to improve your experience. To ensure a secure smartphone, it's essential to keep your mobile's operating system up to date. Operating system updates protect your device from newly discovered threats. You can check if your phone’s operating system is up to date by looking within About Phone or General and clicking on System Updates or Software Update (depending on your device).
Connect to secure Wi-Fi
Mobile devices allow us to access the internet wherever we go. Often, one of the first things we do when out and about is search for Wi-Fi. While free Wi-Fi can save on data, unsecured networks carry security risks. To maximize your safety while using public Wi-Fi, connect to a virtual private network or VPN. A VPN encrypts your data, protecting your location and keeping your information from prying eyes. Equally at home, make sure your home network is set up securely to maximize your safety.
Don’t jailbreak or root your phone
Jailbreaking or rooting your phone is the process of unlocking your phone and removing the safeguards that manufacturers have put in place so you can access anything you want. Users jailbreak or root their phones to access app stores other than the official ones, but this carries risk. The apps on illegitimate stores have not been vetted – which means they can spy on your phone and steal sensitive information.
Encrypt your data
Our smartphones hold a wealth of data. If your phone is lost or stolen, sensitive information like your emails, contacts, and financial information could be at risk. To protect your mobile phone data, you can encrypt it. Encrypted data is stored in an unreadable form so it can’t be understood. Most phones have encryption settings you can control via the security menu.
To check if your iOS device is encrypted:
To encrypt an Android:
Enable remote wiping of your phone
If your phone is lost or stolen, you can remotely clear your personal data from its memory. Provided you have previously backed up your data to the cloud, you don’t have to worry about losing that data. Learn more about how to erase your iPhone remotely and erase your Android device remotely on Apple and Google’s support pages.
Log out of sites after you make a payment
If you use your smartphone for online shopping or online banking, log out of the relevant sites once your transactions are complete. Don’t store your usernames and passwords on your phone, and avoid sensitive transactions while using public Wi-Fi.
Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use
When you keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth active, hackers can see what networks you have connected to before, spoof them and deceive your phone into connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices that hackers carry around. Once connected to your phone, hackers can attack your device with malware, steal data, or spy on you – without you necessarily noticing. Therefore, it’s good to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you don’t need them.
Use a good antivirus
Antivirus isn't just for laptops or desktop computers – it's also essential for mobile devices. A good mobile antivirus will protect your smartphone from viruses and hacking attempts. Kaspersky for Android provides 24/7 protection and includes a ‘Where is my device’ feature as well as spy app detection.
Simu ya mkononi ni kifaa cha elektroniki kinachotumiwa sana katika maisha ya kila siku kwa wengi wetu. Siku za simu za mkononi kutumika hasa kupiga simu au kutuma ujumbe wa maandishi ni muda mrefu gone <unk> sasa, wao kazi kama kompyuta portable, na safu kubwa ya programu kwa kila kitu kutoka mitandao ya kijamii kwa benki ya mtandaoni. Kwa sababu ya kiasi cha data tunachotumia kwenye simu zetu, usalama wa simu ni muhimu. Kama utegemezi wetu juu ya vifaa vya rununu umeongezeka, hivyo pia vitisho vya usalama wa rununu. Soma zaidi kuhusu usalama wa simu na jinsi ya kulinda simu yako. Baadhi ya vitisho kuu vya usalama wa simu ni pamoja na: Programu na tovuti zenye madhara Programu mbaya za rununu (yaani, programu zenye madhara) na tovuti zenye madhara zinaweza kufikia malengo sawa - kama vile kuiba data na encrypting data - kwenye simu za rununu kama kwenye kompyuta za jadi. Programu mbaya kuja katika aina tofauti <unk> ya kawaida ni trojan kwamba kufanya ad na bonyeza udanganyifu. Mobile ransomware ni programu hasidi inayotumiwa kufunga watumiaji nje ya kifaa chao cha rununu na kudai malipo ya fidia, kawaida katika cryptocurrency. Kuongezeka kwa matumizi ya vifaa vya rununu kwa ajili ya biashara imefanya ransomware aina ya kawaida na kuharibu ya programu hasidi. Katika kompyuta za desktop au laptop, mashambulizi mengi ya udanganyifu huanza na barua pepe ambayo inajumuisha kiungo cha uovu au kiambatanisho kilicho na programu hasidi. Kwa upande mwingine, kwa vifaa vya rununu, barua pepe zinawakilisha asilimia 15 tu ya mashambulizi ya udanganyifu. Majaribio mengi ya udanganyifu wa simu hufanyika kupitia ujumbe wa SMS, mitandao ya kijamii, au programu nyingine. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) - Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) mashambulizi ni mashambulizi ya kuingilia kati ya mawasiliano ya mtandao ili waweze kusikiliza au kurekebisha data zinazopitishwa. Ingawa aina hii ya shambulio inawezekana kwenye mifumo tofauti, vifaa vya rununu ni hasa nyeti. Tofauti na trafiki ya wavuti ambayo kwa kawaida hutumia HTTPS iliyofichwa kwa mawasiliano, ujumbe wa SMS unaweza kukamatwa kwa urahisi, na programu za rununu zinaweza kutumia HTTP isiyofichwa wakati data inayoweza kuwa nyeti inahamishwa. Kuondoa Jailbreak na Rooting ni njia ya kupata upatikanaji wa msimamizi kwenye vifaa vya rununu vya iOS na Android. Watumiaji wa simu za mkononi wanaweza jailbreak au mizizi ya vifaa vyao kufuta programu zisizohitajika au kufunga programu kutoka maduka ya programu yasiyoaminika <unk> lakini kufanya hivyo hubeba hatari. Kuongezeka kwa ruhusa inaweza kuwezesha washambuliaji kupata data na kwa hiyo kusababisha uharibifu. Programu za ujasusi zinaweza kukusanya au kutumia data za kibinafsi bila ujuzi wako au idhini yako. Takwimu zinazolengwa kwa kawaida na programu ya ujasusi ni pamoja na historia ya simu, ujumbe wa maandishi, eneo la mtumiaji, historia ya kivinjari, orodha ya mawasiliano, barua pepe, na picha za kibinafsi. Wahalifu wa kompyuta wanaweza kutumia habari hiyo iliyoibiwa kuiba utambulisho au kudanganya kifedha. Swali la kawaida katika usalama wa simu ni kama iPhones ni salama zaidi kuliko Android. Tofauti kubwa kati ya hizi mbili ni kwamba iOS ni mfumo wa uendeshaji uliofungwa, wakati Android hutumiwa na wazalishaji mbalimbali. Hii inamaanisha kwamba Apple haishiriki nambari yake ya chanzo, kupunguza nafasi ya washambuliaji kupata udhaifu katika mfumo wake. Kwa sababu hiyo, wengi huamini kwamba mfumo wa uendeshaji wa iOS ni salama zaidi. Bila kujali, hakuna njia ya kuwa salama kabisa, hata kama una simu ya Apple <unk> hivyo kuelewa usalama wa simu na jinsi ya kulinda simu yako bado ni muhimu. Kumbuka kwamba simu za zamani hazina usalama kama zile mpya. Kwa mfano, iPhone za zamani hazipati tena sasisho za usalama. Ikiwa unatumia simu ya zamani, kuboresha kwa mtindo mpya itasaidia kuongeza usalama wa simu yako. Ikiwa unataka kujua jinsi ya kulinda simu yako, vidokezo muhimu vya usalama wa simu mahiri ni pamoja na: Weka simu yako imefungwa Ikiwa kifaa chako kimeibiwa, mwizi anaweza kupata upatikanaji wa habari yako ya kibinafsi. Ili kuzuia hili, ni muhimu kuwa na kufuli kwenye skrini yako. Kama hii ni password, muundo, alama ya kidole, au utambuzi wa uso inategemea upendeleo wako na uwezo wa kifaa chako. Unaweza kawaida kutaja muda gani simu inaweza kuwa idle kabla ya kufunga wakati kuwezesha screen lock. Chagua muda mfupi zaidi ili kuongeza usalama wa simu yako. Wewe ni kulindwa kwa sababu screen locks moja kwa moja hata kama wewe kusahau kufunga mwenyewe. Pia itahifadhi betri yako kwa sababu skrini inazima baada ya kipindi fulani cha kutofanya kazi. Kuanzisha hii ni moja kwa moja. Kwa vifaa vingi vya Android, unaweza kupata maelekezo ndani ya Eneo na Mipangilio ya Usalama. Kwa watumiaji wa iOS, angalia katika chaguzi za jumla za mipangilio yako. Kuunda Nenosiri la Nguvu kwa Simu yako na Programu Ikiwa jaribio la kutumia nenosiri linashindwa mara kadhaa, simu itafungwa, itazimwa, na katika visa fulani hata itafuta data zote. Uchunguzi unaonyesha kwamba watumiaji wengi wa biashara haibadili nywila za default kwenye vifaa vyao vya rununu au kutumia uthibitisho wa mambo mengi. Maneno dhaifu ya siri yanaweza kuhatarisha shirika lote. Pia ni wazo nzuri kuweka nywila kali kwa ajili ya programu yako - hii itafanya kuwa vigumu kwa hacker kufikiri yao. Kutumia nywila ya kipekee kwa kila programu itahakikisha kuwa hacker hatakuwa na upatikanaji wa habari zako zote ikiwa nywila moja itagunduliwa. Uwe mwangalifu na ujumbe wa maandishi: Ujumbe wa maandishi ni shabaha rahisi kwa programu hasidi ya rununu, kwa hivyo epuka kutuma data nyeti kama maelezo ya kadi ya mkopo au habari muhimu ya kibinafsi kwa ujumbe wa maandishi. Pia, uwe mwangalifu kuhusu ujumbe wa maandishi unaopokea. Smishing (phishing kupitia maandishi) na vishing (phishing ya sauti ambayo hufanyika kupitia simu) ni njia maarufu za kulenga watumiaji wa simu za mkononi. Mhasiriwa wa smashing anaweza kupokea ujumbe wa maandishi ambao unaonekana kutoka kwa biashara, ukiwashawishi kupiga simu na kufunua habari salama ya akaunti ili kushughulikia suala na akaunti yao. Ikiwa unapokea barua pepe au maandishi ambayo yanaonekana kutoka kwa biashara inayokuomba uthibitishe au kusasisha habari ya akaunti, wasiliana na biashara hiyo moja kwa moja ili uthibitishe ombi. Epuka kutumia viungo katika barua pepe au maandishi usiyoyahitaji. Angalia kifaa chako cha kuvinjari kwa alama ya kufuli: Ikono la kufuli katika ubao wa anwani ya kivinjari huonyesha kwamba uko kwenye uhusiano salama na kwamba tovuti unayotumia ina cheti cha usalama cha kisasa. Angalia hii wakati wa kuingiza data ya kibinafsi kama vile anwani yako au habari ya malipo au kutuma barua pepe kutoka kwa kivinjari chako cha rununu. Hakikisha programu zako zinatoka vyanzo vyenye sifa nzuri Daima pakua programu kutoka maduka rasmi ya programu. Google na Apple hujaribu kila programu kabla ya kuruhusiwa kwenye Duka la Play au Duka la App, ambayo inamaanisha kupakua programu kutoka kwa duka rasmi ni hatari kidogo kuliko kupata kutoka mahali pengine. Wahalifu wa mtandao huunda programu bandia za simu zinazoiga bidhaa zinazotumainiwa ili waweze kupata habari za siri za watumiaji. Ili kuepuka mtego huu, kusoma mapitio ya programu na kuangalia developer ya mwisho update na mawasiliano ya habari. Maelezo haya yanapaswa kupatikana ndani ya habari ya programu kwenye duka. Kufuta programu ambazo hutumii tena au hutaki ni zoea zuri pia. Kuhifadhi kifaa chako OS up-to-date Kutoka utendaji kwa usalama, simu ya mkononi mfumo wa uendeshaji updates ni iliyoundwa kuboresha uzoefu wako. Ili kuhakikisha simu yako ya mkononi ni salama, ni muhimu kuweka mfumo wa uendeshaji wa simu yako ya mkononi hadi sasa. Updates mfumo wa uendeshaji kulinda kifaa chako kutoka vitisho hivi karibuni aligundua. Unaweza kuangalia kama mfumo wa uendeshaji wa simu yako ni hadi tarehe kwa kuangalia ndani ya Kuhusu Simu au General na bonyeza System Updates au Programu Update (kutegemea kifaa chako). Kuunganisha kwa Wi-Fi salama vifaa vya rununu kuturuhusu kupata mtandao popote tunapoenda. Mara nyingi, mojawapo ya mambo ya kwanza tunayofanya tunapokuwa nje ni kutafuta Wi-Fi. Ingawa Wi-Fi ya bure yaweza kuokoa data, mitandao isiyo salama hubeba hatari za usalama. Ili kuongeza usalama wako wakati wa kutumia Wi-Fi ya umma, unganisha kwa mtandao wa kibinafsi wa virtual au VPN. VPN inashughulikia data yako, kulinda eneo lako na kuhifadhi habari yako kutoka kwa macho ya curious. Kwa upande mwingine, kuhakikisha mtandao wako nyumbani ni salama na kuhakikisha usalama wako. Jeilbreak au root simu yako ni mchakato wa kufungua simu yako na kuondoa ulinzi kwamba wazalishaji kuweka katika mahali ili uweze kupata chochote unataka. Watumiaji wanaweza kufanya jailbreak au root simu zao ili kupata maduka mengine ya programu isipokuwa rasmi, lakini hii ina hatari. Programu kwenye maduka yasiyo halali hazijachunguzwa <unk> ambayo inamaanisha wanaweza kupeleleza simu yako na kuiba habari nyeti. Encrypt data yako: Smartphones zetu zina data nyingi. Ikiwa simu yako imepotea au kuibiwa, habari nyeti kama barua pepe zako, mawasiliano, na habari za kifedha zinaweza kuwa hatarini. Ili kulinda data yako ya simu ya mkononi, unaweza kuificha. Takwimu encrypted ni kuhifadhiwa katika fomu unreadable hivyo haiwezi kueleweka. Simu nyingi zina mipangilio ya encryption unaweza kudhibiti kupitia orodha ya usalama. Ili kuondoa data kutoka kwa simu yako, unaweza kuifuta kwa njia ya mbali kutoka kwa kumbukumbu ya simu yako. Kwa masharti ya kuwa umefanya nakala rudufu ya data yako kwenye wingu, huna wasiwasi juu ya kupoteza data hiyo. Jifunze zaidi juu ya jinsi ya kufuta iPhone yako kwa mbali na kufuta kifaa chako cha Android kwa mbali kwenye kurasa za msaada za Apple na Google. Kuingia nje ya tovuti baada ya kufanya malipo: Kama wewe kutumia smartphone yako kwa ajili ya ununuzi online au benki online, kuingia nje ya tovuti husika mara moja shughuli zako ni kukamilika. Usihifadhi majina yako ya mtumiaji na nywila kwenye simu yako, na uepuke shughuli nyeti unapotumia Wi-Fi ya umma. Weka Wi-Fi na Bluetooth wakati haitumiki: Wakati unaweka Wi-Fi na Bluetooth hai, wadukuzi wanaweza kuona ni mitandao gani umejumuisha hapo awali, kuibadilisha na kudanganya simu yako kuunganisha kwa vifaa vya Wi-Fi na Bluetooth ambavyo wadukuzi hubeba. Mara baada ya kuunganishwa na simu yako, wahasibu wanaweza kushambulia kifaa chako na programu hasidi, kuiba data, au kukupeleleza <unk> bila wewe lazima kugundua. Kwa hiyo, ni vizuri kuzima Wi-Fi na Bluetooth wakati huna haja yao. Tumia antivirus nzuri Antivirus si tu kwa ajili ya kompyuta ndogo ndogo au kompyuta za desktop <unk> ni muhimu pia kwa ajili ya vifaa vya simu. Antivirus nzuri ya rununu italinda simu yako ya mkononi kutokana na virusi na majaribio ya kuiba. Kaspersky kwa Android hutoa ulinzi wa 24 7 na inajumuisha kipengele cha 'Eneo la kifaa changu' na vile vile kugundua programu ya ujasusi.