Are you one of the 64% of Americans that own a smartphone? If so, you may find yourself using it more frequently than you realize - surfing the web, checking the weather, getting directions, shopping, browsing social media, or checking your bank accounts. Keep in mind that our phones are now becoming important targets for cyber criminals. Follow these simple steps to secure your smartphone today:

Tips & Advice for iPhone Users:

  • Download the latest iOS updates. It may come as a pain to download the newest iPhone operating system every year and the updates that come out throughout the year. However, the newest iPhone operating system is the most secure. Updating to the latest version also ensures you get the latest security and performance updates that are made available. Older operating systems can have security vulnerabilities as the developers shift their attention to the newest and most popular operating systems.

    • Did you know: You now can set your iPhone to make updates at night while you are sleeping. This option can be selected when new updates are available in the “Settings” app.
  • Use the passcode lock on your iPhone. You wouldn’t leave your front door or car unlocked, so don’t risk leaving your phone unlocked if it is lost or stolen. This passcode lock is switched on by default with any iPhone running iOS8 and up. Set it and leave it on.

    • Did you know: You can set a stronger alphanumeric password on your iPhone for even more security than the standard four digit passcode. This setting can be changed in the “Touch ID & Passcode” section of the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
  • Remotely lock or clear your iPhone if it is lost or stolen. One of the worst feelings for a smartphone owner is loosing track of your iPhone. If your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can remotely lock it or clear the phone from any other iPhone or on a computer. Simply log into the “Find iPhone” app on another iPhone, or log into your iCloud.com account from a computer. This app and web portal will show you the location of your iPhone on a map if it is turned on and has cell or Wifi service. If it is switched off or out of service, the map will show you the last known location. You can also lock the phone with a custom message to be seen if it is found. If you fear the phone has been stolen, you can also remotely wipe the iPhone from this app. The thief will not be able to restore the phone without your Apple ID and password.

    • Did you know: If you lost your iPhone in a nearby location, such as your house, you can log into the “Find iPhone” app and force the iPhone to play a loud dinging sound. This allows you to locate the lost phone, even if it was on vibrate or silent mode.
  • Don't use public Wifi for your mobile banking. It is good practice not to use Wifi when using mobile banking apps. Your cellular connection is a secure connection for mobile banking tasks. Although you may think you are on a trusted Wifi network, there could potentially be a cyber thief near your location that has duplicated this public network. They could potentially see private information that you are inputting on your device.

    • Did you know: You can quickly turn your device’s Wifi connection on and off using the Control Center on your iPhone. Simply swipe your finger up from the bottom edge of the device past the bottom edge of the screen. This gives you access to quickly turn your Wifi connection on or off.

Tips & Advice for Android Users:

  • Disable app downloads from unknown sources. The easiest way to get infected with malware on an Android phone or tablet is to start installing apps from outside the official Google Play app store. Applications can be downloaded from numerous places on the Internet, including the Amazon App Store or a website. To avoid unwanted purchases, turn off the option to allow installations from non-market sources.

    • Did you know: In the "Settings" menu of any standard Android device is a check box that enables and disables installing “unofficial” apps. Simply navigate to your Android "Settings," open the applications menu, and make sure there is not a green check mark next to the “Unknown Sources” item. If there is a green check mark, briefly touch the check mark to disable the setting.
  • Upgrade to Android 3.0 or above. The first version of Android to incorporate file system encryption was Android 3.0, almost three years into the system’s life. Devices that do not use any kind of data encryption are all the more susceptible to damaging data loss.

    • Did you know: Updating your device is very simple. First, navigate to the "Settings" menu, click on “About Phone” or “About Tablet.” If you have a tabbed settings menu, this will appear in the “General” section. The menu can vary from device to device, but click the “Software Update” or similar button. Your phone or tablet will now search for an available update. If an update is available, you will be asked whether you wish to install it. If you select yes, then the system will download and install the new software and reboot.
  • Download an anti-malware app. Now that Android malware and viruses are a widely-recognized part of the smartphone world, there are many solutions to combat them. Most of the big antivirus companies have their own Android anti-malware apps, including Kaspersky, AVG, Avast, and Norton.

    • Did you know: The independent testing lab AV-Test released their findings from a comprehensive review of 22 Android security apps, looking at how these portable protectors performed on handled Android devices. The competition was tight, but TrustGo and Lookout took the top slots. Both are totally free antivirus options on the Google Play Store.
  • Use the Chrome browser. Since Android 4.1 was introduced, phones and tablets have come with the stock Android browser as well as Chrome installed as standard. Chrome is marginally more secure than the stock version, having been subject to fewer publicized insecurities in recent months. It is also likely that Chrome for Android is being more keenly worked on, its pre-installed status marking it out as the future default browser for Android.

    • Did you know: You can make sure that Chrome is the default browser on your Android device in a few simple steps. First, go to the "Settings" menu and choose “Applications.” It is there that you can set Chrome as the default browser for “Web URLs” under “App Associations” or tap “clear default.” If Chrome is already open, close the application and start it again. When prompted to keep using Chrome as your default browser, tap “Yes” or “Ok.”

Cyber criminals lurk everywhere, and you are potentially exposed to them every time you check your email, scroll through your social media timeline, or make use of mobile banking. Practicing these good online habits not only makes the Internet more secure for yourself and your devices, but also for everyone around you at home, at work, and across the globe. Check out the infographic below to learn more about mobile security that not only concerns you, but also the organization you are employed with.

Why You Should Care About Mobile Security

Infographic by Veracode Application Security

 

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