Keep Your Smartphone Safe

Protect your phone from hackers just as you would your computer.

Have a Password and Lock For Your Phone – That way, if your phone is stolen, crooks can’t access your personal information and other data.

Download a Remote Wiping Service – That way, you can delete your data if it should fall into the wrong hands. You can also use the service to find your phone by map or ring an alarm if it's lost in your house, for example. Examples include Find My iPhone for Apple, and Lookout for Android.

Download Apps from Trusted Sources – Download from commonly used, trusted sites. You can also read reviews for the app and check its rating. If the app needs to access personal information like your location, text messages or personal information, make sure that makes sense. These techniques can help you avoid downloading bad apps that can snoop your phone.

Use Discretion When Clicking On Links – Only click on links from sources you know. Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages. This avoids mobile malware that can be downloaded to your phone.

Download the Most Current Updates – Take the time regularly to download software updates for your phone. They often include patches to security flaws in your software.

Have a Password for Your Voicemail – Make sure you have your voicemail protected with a PIN, and that it’s different than the one that came with your phone.

Be Selective About What Information You Share – Be choosy about what information you put on social networking sites, such as your birth date, phone number, graduation date, etc. Identity thieves can access this information and can try to piece together items to hack into password protected items.

Look for https – If you are entering personal information, especially when making purchases, look for web addresses beginning with https. This means you are on a secured network.

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