How to Protect Your Phone from Hackers in 8 Sensible Steps

Introduction: How to Protect Your Phone from Hackers

In this post, I'll share my opinions and recommendations for protecting your phone from hackers.

Let's face it: having your phone hacked is scary. Phone hacking is not simply humiliating; it is also a serious problem with potentially disastrous implications. It can result in the theft of personal information, financial loss, identity theft, and other types of fraud. As a result, you may feel violated, exposed, and vulnerable.

Unfortunately, phone hacking is becoming more widespread. Hackers get access to your phone using a variety of means, including malware, phishing tactics, and social engineering. They may steal your data, monitor your actions, and even take control of your device if they have access.

Malware is harmful software that hackers can install without your knowledge on your device. One kind of phishing is to send emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source but are actually from a hacker. Social engineering is a method of tricking individuals into divulging sensitive information.

According to an article published by https://www.zippia.com/:

“Phishing attacks on mobile devices are increasingly more common.”, accounting for 60% of all cyber fraud. The increased global reliance on cell phones, mobile banking, and mobile devices for sensitive business activities has contributed to an increase in mobile cyber fraud “.

A hacker who has access to your phone can perform several things. Personal information such as contacts, images, and financial information might be stolen. They can listen in on your phone calls, messages, and emails. They can even take control of your device and use it to send messages or make phone calls in some situations.

Reasons to Protect Your Phone from Hackers

As smartphones get more powerful, hackers are increasingly targeting mobile phones. And more sophisticated phones are on the way.

Your phone is a piece of personal technology that stores sensitive personal information about you. Having said that, here are eight reasons why you should take the necessary precautions to secure your phone from hackers:

1. Protect Your Identity: Your phone has a wealth of personal information that hackers may exploit to steal your identity. Hackers can use this information to create new accounts or get access to existing ones in your name.

Consider this: every 22 seconds, an identity theft case is recorded. According to researchers, these instances happen so often that a new victim is found every 22 seconds. According to most research, this ratio will rise in 2023, making it an even more pressing issue for Americans.

2. Avoid Financial Loss: If a hacker acquires access to your bank or credit card accounts, they may empty them and do you serious financial harm.

Consider the following: Credit card fraud was the most prevalent type of identity theft found in the United States in the first half of 2022, accounting for 230,937 claims out of a total of 603,591 identity fraud incidents recorded countrywide for the six months, according to the FTC.

3. Protect Your Privacy: Hackers can use your phone's information to snoop on you or get access to your internet accounts. Hackers can intrude on your privacy and expose you to potentially harmful assaults.

4. Protect Your Information: Hackers can acquire access to your phone's data and utilize it to their advantage. Stealing confidential information, obtaining passwords, and gaining access to private messages are all examples of access.

5. Prevent Malware: Without your awareness, malware can be put on your phone, allowing hackers to access your device and data.

6. Protect Your Photographs: Hackers might gain access to your images and videos, which can be humiliating and even harmful if made public.

7. Avoid Phishing: To get access to your personal information, hackers might send fraudulent websites and emails to your phone.

In 2022, how many phishing cases occurred?

Over six months in 2022, SlashNext examined billions of link-based URLs, attachments, and natural language interactions across email, mobile, and browser channels and discovered more than 255 million assaults — a 61 percent increase in the frequency of phishing attempts compared to 2021.

8. Avoid Spam: Because around 15 billion spam emails are transmitted over the internet every day, spam filters are “working overtime” and may allow deadly phishing assaults to sneak through. Phishing assaults were reported by 83% of firms in 2021.

Hackers may also try to obtain your personal information by sending spam SMS to your phone.

You may take a variety of steps to address the key topic of how to safeguard your phone from hackers, which we will discuss in the next section.

How to Protect Your Phone from Hackers by Following 8 Sensible Steps

We've all heard nightmare stories about hackers stealing personal information, but our phones are among the most susceptible pieces of technology. Anyone with basic technological skills may gain access to and misuse our devices if given the right information and tools. So, how can you prevent hackers from gaining access to your phone?

The following are eight practical ways to protect your phone from hackers.

1. Purchase Commercial Antivirus Software

The added protection and peace of mind that comes with switching from free antivirus software to a full internet security solution is well worth the price.

The most important action you can take to secure your phone from hackers is to use professional-grade antivirus software.

Antivirus software detects, prevents, and removes potentially dangerous viruses from your computer. It can detect and defend your computer against viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, and other types of malware.

Antivirus software often scans your device for dangerous files or apps. If they are discovered, they will be quarantined or removed. It can help prevent harmful websites and applications from downloading into your smartphone.

Most commercial-grade antivirus software includes extra capabilities like real-time protection, which monitors your computer for potentially hazardous activities, and anti-phishing protection, which protects you from efforts to steal your personal information. Furthermore, some antivirus systems can scan incoming emails and downloads to protect your device better.

2. Utilize a Paid VPN Service.

In 2023, people are still discussing whether to use free or premium VPN services. Simply said, nothing in our life is free. Everything has a price. It is worthwhile to pay for a premium VPN service. The disadvantages of using a free VPN service provider are numerous; nevertheless, we will not go through them here.

Another important step in protecting your phone from hackers is to use a Virtual Private Network. A VPN protects you from potential cyber dangers by encrypting your data and disguising your IP address.

A VPN protects your data from possible hackers by preventing them from accessing sensitive information. A VPN protects your online activity by establishing a tunnel that allows you to browse the web without being viewed or traced. It also hides your IP address and encrypts your data, making it difficult for hackers to steal your data.

3. Maintain Software Updates

Software upgrades are critical for security in today's digital environment. These are intended to address any security concerns that may have arisen in previous program versions.

You should also keep your phone's security software up to date. Tools include antivirus software, firewalls, and anything else you use to secure your data. Updating this program ensures that it is capable to detecting any new threats.

4. Only install and download software from trusted sources.

Another important tip for ‘how to protect your phone from hackers' is to only download and install apps from reputable websites. Understanding the hazards of downloading and installing programs from unknown sources while browsing the app store is critical.

Malicious software, sometimes known as malware, may be used to steal personal information, follow your activities, and even take complete control of your device. It is critical to only download software from trusted sources that are well-known for their security features. To begin, downloading software from questionable sources may expose you to harmful malware.

Another danger of downloading and installing software from shady websites is that you may end up with an outdated version. Older versions of programs may include security holes that hackers may exploit. To keep your smartphone secure, download the most recent version of the software.

5. Make Your Password Difficult

To safeguard your devices from illegal access, use a complicated password.

A complicated password is far safer than a straightforward four-digit password. It has at least eight characters that are made up of letters, numbers, and symbols. It should also contain no personally identifiable information, such as your name, birth date, or address.

Set up separate passwords for each software to offer further protection. Using a password manager is the most efficient option.

Password managers record and encrypt all of your passwords in a database, enabling you to access them all from a single safe location and removing the need to remember different passwords.

The problem is that password managers keep your credentials “in the cloud” and are frequently compromised – it's a never-ending cycle. Never, ever save vital or sensitive passwords on the cloud. This is about as dangerous as anything you could do on purpose or by accident.

I've included a self-contained password manager that runs on your computer. It is absolutely free and does not require any opt-in or registration. It has no connection to the internet in any form. It safeguards the critical credentials on your local PC.

Here's a link to our training center's instructional video (no login required); check it out to see whether it's anything you need (I assure you, you do). If you want to download it, look for the “Description” link on the left side of that lesson page, which will lead you to the direct download URL.

RememberWhen is now available (Password Manager)

6. Configure Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

What exactly is 2FA, and how do I enable it?

Two-factor authentication (2FA), often known as two-step verification or dual-factor authentication, is a security approach that requires users to give two distinct authentication factors in order to be authenticated.

2FA safeguards a user's credentials as well as the resources to which he or she has access.

You can choose the form of authentication that is most convenient for you. You may choose between SMS authentication and app-based authentication.

SMS authentication necessitates entering a code supplied to your phone through text message. App-based authentication requires the use of a phone app to create a code that is then entered into the system. Whatever method you use, be sure it is safe and that you have a backup plan in place in case you lose access to your phone.

7. Do not click on strange websites or files.

We've all heard it a million times, but it bears repeating: Never click on untrustworthy links or files! Clicking on unknown links or files on your phone, computer, or tablet may cause damage to your device and data.

You risk infecting your device with malicious software, viruses, or ransomware by clicking on unfamiliar URLs or files. Hackers may use malicious software to access your devices and personal data, such as passwords and credit card information.

Second, clicking on unfamiliar links or files may be risky since they may lead to phishing or other harmful websites. Phishing websites are meant to appear authentic while really stealing your personal information.

How to Keep Your Phone Safe from Hackers: It is critical not to access unfamiliar websites or download unexpected files. Double-check the sender's email address and the link or file to ensure its safety when you receive a link or file from an unknown source.

8. Discover How to Lock or Wipe Your Phone Remotely

Remote wiping is a security feature that allows a network administrator or the owner of a computer device to send a command to a computer device that deletes data. It is frequently used to remove data from a lost or stolen device, ensuring that the data is not compromised if it gets into the hands of the wrong persons.

Most smartphones and tablets now include this capability, which allows you to remotely lock or wipe your device in the event that it is stolen or misplaced. Check your device's settings to determine whether this is an option.

This is the Service we Use for Our Online Security

Data is the new currency, and you can’t afford to gamble on its safety. We don’t; thus, we rely on Sophos Home Premium to handle all our online security requirements.

Sophos Home Premium was created by Sophos Limited, a British firm focusing on digital security, and is our go-to resource on ‘how to keep secure in any online activity.'

The bottom line is that Sophos Home is more than simply an antivirus application. It protects against the most modern and unexpected online threats, including malware, adware, keyloggers, phishing attempts, and fraudulent websites.

It safeguards your online experience by preventing hackers from obtaining your credentials and getting access to sensitive personal information through breaches and deception. Sophos Home's powerful web protection guarantees that you are not a victim of online fraud and that online threats do not affect your PC or Mac.

So, is my mobile device covered as a Sophos Premium customer?

Indeed, the answer is yes. Our free Intercept X for Mobile app can safeguard mobile devices.

Sophos Intercept X for Mobile safeguards Android and iOS devices, networks, and apps [both free] and can also protect Chrome OS devices.

How can I get Sophos Intercept X for Mobile to work on my device?

Sophos Home customers may use their mobile devices to visit the Sophos Home Dashboard and navigate to the appropriate shop (Apple or Google) by selecting the Add new device/Add device button.

Sophos Home members may also download the program directly from their devices’ Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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