If you are allowed to use your mobile phones or tablets for work, make sure those devices are secure. Even if you don’t use your mobile for work, security matters – most of us keep lots of personal information on phones and tablets. Take these steps to make sure your mobile devices are secure:
- Update your operating system. Security patches for Android and Apple’s iOS (and other mobile devices) arrive frequently. Set automatic updates so you get security fixes quickly.
- Enable a ‘find my device’ feature. Look for an option to locate your phone from another device or computer (like Find My in iOS). This can help you locate your device if it goes missing and, if you can’t recover it, may allow you to remotely lock or ‘wipe’ the device so no one else can access information on your mobile.
- Enable a PIN/password and encryption. On newer devices, encryption is enabled by default when you set a PIN or password. Don’t use an easy-to-guess PIN like ‘1234’ or ‘0000’.
- Replace unsupported operating systems. If you don’t get updates for your mobile, the installed iOS or Android version may no longer be supported. Update to a new version or consider replacing the device with something more secure.
- Don’t ‘jailbreak’ your device. If you jailbreak your mobile – making changes to the operating system that aren’t permitted by the manufacturer – don’t use the device for work. Jailbreaking may allow you to customize or add software, but it can also weaken security in ways that make the device more vulnerable to hacks.
Android and Apple iOS are the most common mobile operating systems, but you might use another type of device. If you aren’t sure how to secure your mobile, the manufacturer’s website should provide guidance – or you might ask friends and family for help.