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Welcome back to another edition of Byte Sized Security, your source
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for bite-sized cybersecurity lessons.
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I'm your host Marc David, and with me today I have mobile
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security expert Savannah Hill.
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Our smartphones contain massive amounts of personal data and access,
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making mobile security critical.
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Savannah is joining me to provide tangible tips on keeping your mobile
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devices safe from hackers, malware, data theft and unauthorized access.
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Whether you use an iPhone or Android, you’ll walk away with actions you
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can take to boost your mobile safety.
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Savannah, so great to have you here.
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Can you start by giving us an overview of the major mobile security
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risks smartphone users face today?
Carla:
Happy to be here!
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Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have become tempting targets
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for cybercriminals because of all the sensitive information they contain - think
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contacts, photos, messages, app data, and access to your online accounts.
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Two major risks are malware infections that can steal data, and thieves cracking
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into devices if they’re lost or stolen.
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But with some reasonable precautions, mobile users can
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greatly reduce their exposure.
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Excellent context, let’s start walking through some key
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actions people can take, beginning with device access controls.
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What role do locks and biometrics play in mobile security?
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Absolutely, restricting physical access is crucial.
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I always recommend using the strongest screen lock available
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for your device, rather than no lock or just swipe patterns.
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For most modern smartphones, this means enabling a fingerprint reader or facial
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recognition for quick, secure unlocking.
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Strong passwords or longer numeric PINs also work if biometrics aren’t an option.
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The lock makes it vastly harder for anyone who gets hold of
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your device to access the data.
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What are your thoughts on users backing up their mobile
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data like contacts and photos?
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Does that play a role in the security equation?
Carla:
Backing up your mobile data is critical, for both security and having a
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redundancy if devices fail or get lost.
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I suggest regularly backing up photos, contacts, documents and
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anything valuable to cloud storage like iCloud or Google Drive.
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You can also back up locally to a computer or external drive using
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iTunes or Android file transfer.
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This protects all your info if your phone is damaged, lost or wiped.
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That’s an excellent habit I need to get better about myself.
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Let’s talk about malware next, what steps can mobile users take to avoid infections?
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Malware on mobile largely spreads through untrustworthy app
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downloads, just like on computers.
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So I advise installing apps only from the official Apple and Google app stores,
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where there is more stringent vetting.
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Avoid “sideloading” from unverified sources, which is riskier.
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Also only grant app permissions to access contacts, location, as truly needed.
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And keep your device OS and apps up-to-date, since updates
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often patch security flaws.
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You can enable auto-updates for your phone and I strongly recommend you do that.
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What about using mobile antivirus software as an additional precaution?
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Is that overkill or recommended?
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Mobile antivirus can provide an added layer of protection, especially
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for Android users since Google Play isn’t as tightly vetted as Apple’s App Store.
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Look for highly rated options like Malwarebytes, AVG Antivirus, and Norton
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that can scan for malware and risky apps.
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But antivirus shouldn’t replace precautions like safe app downloads.
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Think of it as supplemental for those wanting maximum mobile protection.
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Let’s shift to safe web browsing.
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What risks exist on mobile, and how can we browse more securely?
Carla:
Mobile browsers pose many of the same risks as desktop - malicious sites,
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phishing attacks, unsecured connections.
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I’d recommend deleting unneeded browser cookies and history routinely
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to wipe potentially cached malware.
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Use the private or incognito browsing mode when accessing sensitive
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sites, like banking, to keep that activity out of your main browser.
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And when on public Wi Fi, use a trusted VPN app to encrypt your
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connection and prevent snooping.
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What about the risk of mobile devices getting physically lost or stolen?
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How can users prepare for that possibility?
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That’s always a concern with small, portable devices.
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Two things I recommend are enabling remote wipe capabilities, and
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setting up device location tracking.
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Remote wipe allows you to securely erase all data if a device is lost.
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And location tracking apps like Find My iPhone or Android Device Manager
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let you pinpoint a missing phone.
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Also set a lock screen message with your contact details such as email or a
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phone number but not your home address, so an honest finder can return it.
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For users really serious about mobile security, are there any advanced
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steps you recommend beyond the basics?
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A few additional protections come to mind, like setting up a VPN
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for all mobile traffic to encrypt it.
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For rooted Android users, running a mobile security suite like AVG Zen
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provides advanced malware scanning.
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And enterprise mobile management tools from vendors like VMware offer robust
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security controls for corporate devices.
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But for most mobile users, the steps we’ve covered like strong locks, safe browsing
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and backups provide excellent security.
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This has been an extremely helpful mobile bite sized security
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mini class for our listeners.
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Any final words of wisdom before we wrap up?
Carla:
I would just remind people that consistent vigilance is key.
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Revisit your security protections periodically as new risks emerge,
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and keep device OS and apps updated.
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And of course, contact mobile providers immediately if
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devices are lost or compromised.
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Outstanding tips, thank you for sharing your mobile security insights!
Carla:
My pleasure, thanks for having me!
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That concludes this Byte Sized Security edition focused on keeping your
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smartphones and tablets more secure.
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Enable strong locks, limit app permissions, use antivirus judiciously,
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browse safely, and back up your data.
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Take the time to implement mobile safeguards, and you’ll reap the
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benefits of greater online safety.
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We’ll see you next time!
