The phone in your back pocket wears a lot of hats. It’s your messaging center, game console, work device, calendar, and alarm clock. Unfortunately, it might be a security risk, too. – Mobile Lockdown
Your phone contains a lot of data. Not only do have personal info and email contacts tucked away on your mobile, but you also use your phone to access the Internet and exchange data.
When it comes time to check your bank account, do your taxes, or apply to borrow money online, this data contains high-risk information. Is your phone secure enough to handle this exchange without exposing your financials?
Exposing this data could spell bad news for your finances. If cybercriminals get a hold of your private information, they can use it open fraudulent payday loans online and run up debt under your name.
Just How Big is the Risk of Exposure? – Mobile Lockdown
A cyberattack may seem more suited to the plot of an action movie. Or, at the very least, it should be a concern of CEOs of large financial institutions managing billions of dollars.
But a cyberattack is more likely to happen than you think. According to security firm Check Point and its Mobility Security Report 2021, about 40% of all mobile devices are susceptible to cyberattacks.
Tips to Keep Your Smartphoneand Mobile Lockdown Tight
Your behavior online can increase or decrease your chances, depending on how well you secure your phone. Here are three things you can do to strengthen your protection.
1. Manage Money on a Secured Network
A mobile phone means you can do almost anything online, on the go. But just because you can check your bank balance or apply for an installment loan over the phone doesn’t mean you should.
When it comes to these important financial tasks, you’ll want to wait until you’re at home and browsing on a secured network. That’s because your bank or installment loan account contains confidential info that only you and your trusted financial institutions should see.
Exchanging this info on a public network, like the free one available at your coffee shop, makes it vulnerable to cyberthieves who know how to hijack the connection. Anyone on the same network can see any info you exchange online with the right know-how.
If you have to use public Wi-Fi, a VPN (or virtual private network) is an app you can download that encrypts your activity on any connection. visit here
2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
A strong password isn’t enough nowadays. You’ll want to opt into multi-factor authentication for important apps, especially for your banking.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) will add another layer of protection to keep unwanted visitors from seeing your profile — whether your banks, robo-advisors, or online direct lenders have apps.
MFA requires you to input at least two verification factors to access your account. That usually includes a password and a time-sensitive code. However, it may also require biometric data from a face or fingerprint scan.
Adding this third layer to MFA makes it hard for anyone to crack your financials, even if they steal your phone.
3. Download An Anti-Virus
So far, this guide has talked about theft. A cyberthief can defraud you if they spy on your installment loan login on the shared wireless, or they can hack into your banking app if you leave your phone unattended and unlocked.
But what about malware that installs viruses and other problematic programs on your phone? You can lock malware out by downloading anti-virus software.
This software runs silently whenever you’re using your phone to scan files, identify threats, and delete malware. It’s a great idea if you use your phone for work and download a lot of attachments.
Remember these tips the next time you unlock your phone. They can keep your data safe.
