Your iPhone browser may be the last thing you think about each day. When you want to access Amazon, scroll the news, or look up something, you may simply click on Safari, do what you need to do, and not give your browser a second thought. Unfortunately, sleeping on minimal browser maintenance can make your data more vulnerable to hackers and security issues. It doesn’t take a great deal of effort or time to beef up your browser’s security, but it is an important step that you shouldn’t neglect.
Stop making these three unexpected iPhone browsing mistakes that make your personal information susceptible to hackers.
1. Ignoring Software Updates
Whenever you receive a software update for your browser, iOS, or any other app on your phone, it’s important to download the update asap. There’s a good chance software developers have figured out a bug in the system, and some bugs leave you more vulnerable to hackers and security issues. These newer updates will address the bug and keep you safer. Don’t leave updates for another day.
2. Clicking On Strange Links
If you receive emails that contain links to websites, and you don’t recognize the sender or feel like the message is “off,” do not click on the link. The link can lead to a website where malware or spyware is downloaded onto your phone. One common email hacking hoax is sending an email that claims it is from a company that is legit and asking you to click on a link to your invoice for purchases it claims you made. Even if you haven’t shopped there recently, you may be curious to see if your credit card is out there and if there has been some mistake. But if you look closer, you’ll see the email address does NOT look like a legit email from a company. Don’t click on strange and suspicious links.
3. Never Using Private Browsing
Private browsing doesn’t guarantee you’ll never deal with a security breach, but it can certainly help. Safari’s private browsing mode is a good one to use when you’re doing anything that requires exchanging secure and confidential information, including banking info. It can reduce tracking and the amount of data that Safari can store.
