In 2020, the National Security Agency (NSA) came out with a few safety guidelines for mobile phones in a bid to create awareness on cyber crimes and to help reduce the number of people who fall victim to such crimes. As of 2024, cyber crimes are still on a steady rise, with a 28 per cent increase since the last quarter of 2023. As scams change and hackers become more cunning, following these suggestions can be the only defence you have against online dangers. Here are the reasons why it is more important than ever to heed the NSA's advice to protect your digital life.
Turn off your device once a week
Getting into the practice of switching off/rebooting your device once a week can help reduce the risk of falling prey to online scams. Rebooting a device forces hackers to start over from scratch, thwarting their malicious schemes before they have a chance to take root.
Turning off Bluetooth and wi-fi
Turning off your Bluetooth and wi-fi functions when they are not in use can help keep your device safe from getting connected to malicious wi-fi networks and put a stop to call/text/voice data being collected over the network. It is important to note that airplane mode does not always turn off Bluetooth as well; so make sure to check if all the toggles are turned off.
Keep OS and all apps updated
Keeping your operations system and apps up-to-date is a crucial part of online security. This helps apps identify and make sure there is no malware or problems with the programme that could lead to the leaking of your information.
Disabling location services
Turning off location services on your phone can help conceal your location from third parties who may have hacked into your device.
Install apps from official sites
When looking to install new applications on your device, make sure to download them from official sites that have been approved by trusted sources, such as Google Play or the Apple App Store, to minimise the risk of malware attacks.
Use secure lock screen passwords
Always choose a secure password for your phone. In a very online and digital world, our phones contain a lot of sensitive and important information and the screen lock is the first safeguard put in place to make sure that such data is safe. Mixing numbers, alphanumeric characters and symbols to form the password can create a safer password that is less prone to be easily hacked.
Always use trusted accessories
NSA recommends using only trusted accessories because malevolent actors may take advantage of the charging port on your smartphone to obtain unauthorised access and maybe cause harm. You can shield your smartphone against potential security breaches and prevent your personal data from falling into the wrong hands by sticking to trusted brands and avoiding inexpensive, uncertified accessories.
Use encrypted voice/text/data apps
These applications employ advanced encryption techniques to scramble your communications, making it virtually impossible for unauthorised individuals to intercept or decipher your messages. Apps such as iMessages, Whatsapp and Signal provide such privacy measures to ensure the safe transfer of information.
Mic drowning cases and camera covers
Mic drowning cases and camera covers are designed to stop unwanted room audio/video collection. Hackers often use the mic and camera on your device to record audio and video which may contain sensitive information. To stop this invasion of privacy, mic drawing cases and camera covers could be used.
Maintain physical control of devices
Make sure that your device is always on your person especially when out in public spaces. Avoid leaving it unattended, even for short periods, as it can be easy for someone to tamper with it when you are not looking.