As hackers become increasingly more sophisticated and savvy in their attempts to infiltrate our data and wreak havoc on our lives, it’s more important than ever to fight back with a strong defense (and offense, as well). Taking steps to secure your phone before any damage can happen is the best plan of attack against potential hackers, and it helps to know which common mistakes so many of us are making on our phones that leave them more vulnerable.
Securing your phone needn’t be a full-time job, but some occasional maintenance is necessary. Avoid these four iPhone mistakes that experts say are exposing your data to hackers and commit to a few minutes each week to ensure your phone is as secure as possible.
Never Updating Your Device
Apple software developers know it isn’t enough to make a product and never update it — it’s important to keep things new and fresh to avoid bugs and viruses. That’s why it’s so crucial to keep your iPhone’s iOS up to date and download new software updates when they become available. Of course, with so much else on your mind how can you ensure your phone updates when Apple makes changes? Go to Settings > General > Software Update > tap Automatic Updates.
Not Using Strong Passwords
It’s so easy to succumb to the temptation of using weak passwords that are simple to remember (like your name and birthday — a no-no). But hackers can easily crack simple passwords and it’s important to keep yours complex, with a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Even better: enable two-factor authentication for sensitive websites so that they require you to enter an additional code sent to your phone or email.
Downloading Apps That Look Suspicious
While it’s true that Apple does a decent job at vetting apps and keeping malicious ones out of the App Store, if you are finding ways around this by installing apps from third-party sources, you are opening yourself up to the risk of malware and spyware. Only download apps from the App Store, and read reviews and ratings before you do to find out if anyone has had poor experiences with the app.
Ignoring Privacy Settings
Apps feature privacy settings that ask you for permission to do certain things, such as access your microphone or camera. It’s up to the user to read these settings carefully and determine what they are comfortable enabling and not enabling. Pay particular attention to permissions that concern camera, microphone, and location services.
