Tips to Keep Your Smartphone Safe

Many of us check our phones multiple times an hour, keeping up to date, in touch with friends or family, doing some work or playing a game. Unfortunately, stolen data can be valuable and cyber threats are on the rise. While you’re connected, it’s important to make sure you stay protected.

Beyond basic cyber security practices, like strong passwords, there are things you can do to make sure your mobile phone and data stay out of a cyber criminal’s hands:

• Install anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software on your device if possible, and always keep them updated.

• Be extra careful when doing mobile banking. Never save passwords or personal information, and delete your browsing history.

• Always log out of sites when you’re done, no matter how convenient it seems to save your password or stay logged in.

• Be aware that mobile phishing is a growing threat with lure emails and fake sites that can be harder to spot on mobile browsers.

• Watch for signs of infection from a virus like a sudden unexplained increase in your phone bill or unexplained messages in your ‘sent’ folders.

• Think about what you absolutely need to store on your mobile, and erase everything else, like browsing history, passwords, and sensitive emails or text messages. If your device is stolen, this will be one less worry.

For more information, visit GetCyberSafe.ca.

www.newscanada.com