Your mobile contains a great deal of personal information including your location, photos, contacts, messages, social media accounts and banking apps. In the wrong hands, these details could be used against you to cause serious chaos. Mobile phone scams often lead to financial accounts being wiped, personally identifiable information being sold on the dark web and the perpetration of identity theft which can have far reaching consequences.
Many of us assume that our phones are protected against the types of malware and viruses that are known to infiltrate laptops and PCs. Whilst this may be true — viruses cannot spread between phones in the same way they do across other devices — it’s still important that you make the use of security software to safeguard the personal information found on your phone.
Keep reading to discover the top security apps that you simply must have downloaded on your portable device.
Password Manager
Practising good password security is one of the best ways you can safeguard your personal information. Never use the same password for multiple accounts and always set strong passwords that use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.
It can be difficult to remember individual login details for each of our accounts, which is why many people default to using the same code over and over again. This is where a password manager app comes in. The app will be able to create strong passwords for each of your accounts and store them on an encrypted server.
The only password you will need to remember is the one that unlocks your manager app.
Two-factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is a simple way of significantly increasing your security and should safeguard you against many mobile phone scams.
Two-factor authentication sets a second login step, meaning that should someone attempt to infiltrate your account, they will need more than your username and password. For instance, you are able to set two-factor authentication on your Facebook account. Should your account be accessed from a new device, Facebook will send you a text message containing a code that must be entered before you are able to login.
You should set up two-factor authentication on all of your online accounts that offer this security application.
VPN
A VPN — or virtual private network — is a must-have security tool. The technology provides an encrypted tunnel that safeguards both your data and location from prying eyes which can include government agencies and cybercriminals.
Despite this, many of us do not consider the importance of using a VPN on our mobiles. Installing a VPN app on your mobile is non-negotiable when it comes to internet security, particularly given the amount of time that many of us spend browsing on unsecured, free public Wi-Fi networks at shopping centres and cafes.
Firewall
A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and is designed to prevent unauthorised access. Again, many of us have firewalls installed on our home routers but it is less likely for individuals to make use of the technology on their mobile device.
Firewall apps grant you greater control over your phone applications. Using one provides you with the ability to control which apps access the internet, the types of connections they can utilise (data or Wi-Fi) and also analyse the amount of data that each app is using.
Security Software
A good security app will combine all of the above features to provide well-rounded protection. Should you be looking to purchase or upgrade your security software, ensure that it comes with mobile protection. Other features you should look for include:
- Malware and antivirus protection
- Spam filters
- Phishing protection
- Dark web monitoring
- Parental control
- Data backup capabilities
Above all, ensure that you only download security apps from the official Apple and Google Play stores. Avoid free apps, which do not always provide the security protection they promise and stick to well-known providers. Armed with knowledge and a strong suite of security apps, you will be well prepared to defend yourself against most mobile phone scams.
