Haven’t Backed Up Your Phone Yet? Here Are 4 Reasons You Need to Think About Mobile Security

We all use our mobile phones these days for so many different things. Without our phones, we would not be able to communicate with our loved ones, browse the web on the go, or make online purchases whenever we need to. Our dependency on our phones means that if anything were to happen to them and we were to lose our data, it could cause some big problems. Many people only ever think about how sad they would be if they lost their photos or contacts, but there are various other potential consequences. With hackers and cybercriminals becoming better all the time at accessing our devices, it is crucial that you have everything safe and secure.

To help everyone understand the importance of protecting your phone, here are four reasons why you need to think about mobile security.

1. Losing Your Files and Photos Can Be Heartbreaking

Everyone has so many photos and important files on our phones and if we don’t look after them properly we could end up losing them. The number one way to protect your files is to backup your phone so that if you lose it or it breaks, you will have them all stored somewhere else for recovery. The best thing to do is to backup your phone in multiple ways. As well as saving files on the phone itself, you can move or copy data to your computer, a USB stick, and also store on a drive provided by a cloud storage company, because then you will have triple protection. You can store huge amounts of data through cloud storage, just make sure that you have all the necessary security features in place such as strong, unique passwords. 

2. Many WiFi Networks Are Not Safe

When you are away from home or your workplace, you may be tempted to save your data and use a public WiFi network. We see these networks everywhere from coffee shops to airports, and many of us believe that they are safe enough. In fact, public WiFi networks are one of the easiest ways for hackers and cybercriminals to get into your phone and do mischiefs like stealing your personal data and financial information. 

If you absolutely must use the WiFi in a coffee shop or another place, make sure that you only use a network that has a password. One trick that cybercriminals sometimes do is create a network themselves that has the same name as a coffee shop and sit there waiting for unwitting customers to connect to it. Make sure you double-check with employees which one is the correct network before connecting.

3. Hackers Can Attack Outdated Software

It is so tempting to always press “Remind me tomorrow” whenever software or operating system update becomes available. We don’t want to have to wait or restart our computer, and many of us worry that an update will affect our phone’s performance. It is very important, however, that your phone always has the latest software because if it doesn’t, it can be at increased risk of being hacked. 

Sophisticated hackers and their programs learn to exploit weaknesses in operating systems but new updates are designed to fix these weaknesses. The updates will also help your phone to run more smoothly and can solve any bugs that often appear with outdated operating systems.

4. Some Apps Have Viruses

One of the best things about smartphones is the huge range of apps available. These are super easy to download and enable you to play games, communicate, learn something new, and organize your life. When you are downloading an app, it is crucial that you check it is coming from a reputable source like the Apple App Store. 

This will ensure that the app will not have any viruses or other problems which could damage your phone. While many apps are free, others will require you to pay so it is very important you always backup your phone regularly so that if something happens to your handset, you will be able to download your apps to your new phone and won’t have to pay again.

There are many reasons why you need to secure your phone and backing up your data and being aware of potential security issues is more important than ever. Being careful about which networks you connect to and ensuring that your most important files and photos are not only saved on your handset are basic measures that everyone needs to take. Never download questionable apps or files and keep your operating system updated. With these tips, you will be able to keep your phone safe and secure.