The number of apps being developed daily is mind-blowing. With many people now having access to smartphones, so has the astronomical rise in apps. These apps perform various functions such as enhancing productivity, connecting people, entertainment, reminders, and managing finances, among many more. However, some of the issues lately been causing controversy is how much data and information these apps collect and how they are using it. There have been cases where some apps will collect sensitive information and sell it to third parties.
Furthermore, some apps may be compromised, resulting in a data breach of its users’ sensitive information, which somebody could use unscrupulously. While there is not much one can do in such a situation, it is highly recommended to secure your data and information to improve the security of your smartphones. Here are some handy tips.
Secure your passwords
One of the easiest ways to get your phone security compromised is using weak and easy-to-guess passwords such as your birthday. Everyone understands the importance of using strong and unique passwords that are hard for hackers to crack. However, the downside is that strong, unique passwords are hard to remember, especially if you have multiple accounts. Nonetheless, you can use a password manager app to generate and remember strong and unique passwords. For example, you can use a free password manager such as Bitwarden to generate a strong and unique password for your mail account, another unique one for your Royal Panda casino account, a unique one for your social media account, and other strong, unique ones for your other accounts. To use the generated passwords to access your accounts, you will only need to log in to the master Bitwarden app and gain access to your accounts.
Use VPN
It is highly recommended to use VPN services, especially while on public Wi-Fi. Since we are constantly carrying our smartphones around, we may forget to use a VPN, which may compromise your smartphone’s security since someone may be snooping on your phone. It is also important to choose a reputable one since some may engage in questionable practices when choosing a VPN.
Carefully review app permissions
It is highly recommended to review and check which permissions the app asks to perform on your smartphone because some apps may be asking for approval that is not relevant to what they intend to do. For example, a calculating app would not make sense to ask for access to your contact list.
Use legit and trustworthy apps
When downloading an app, it is important to ensure it is legit and trustworthy. Since some users may have experiences with these apps, you should read online reviews to see what they say about the app you want to download.
Limit the amount of data and information you share
If you share a lot of your data and information, especially on social media platforms, it becomes easy for someone to profile you. This can mean someone may create an identical account and use it to spam or fraud your family or friends.
Keep your security software updated
Developers of security apps are constantly developing and improving them to become better at dealing with ever-emerging threats. Therefore, we highly recommend to keep your software updated. In addition, it is advisable to only download trusted apps from legit stores such as Google Play and Apple’s App Store. This is because apps from these stores have been vetted and tested to ensure they meet the required standards and are not infected with malware or viruses.