With the rise of online phishing attacks, hacks, data breaches, and identity theft, protecting yourself whenever you use the internet is imperative. As mobile smartphones become more commonplace, it is important to learn how to lock down your privacy and identity to prevent the loss or leaking of personal and private information of your own.
Secure Your Smartphone
The first and most important step to take to increase the security and protection on your mobile phone is to secure it. Securing your Android or iOS smartphone is possible by accessing the security settings in your phone. Even if your mobile phone is not a smartphone, you may have the ability to set a lock pass-code or pin to access your phone’s information.
When setting your pin, be sure not to use a pin that may be easy to guess for a thief or a hacker. Some pins to avoid include 1234, 5050, 1111 or any other pin that is generic and too simplistic. Avoid choosing a pin that includes your child’s birthday or even your own birthday as this can also be an easy pin to crack for the experienced hacker or online thief.
Monitor Who is Tracking You
Whenever you use your mobile phone to browse the internet, it is important to know who is tracking you. Most websites today use cookies to track users to determine where they come from and which website they visit upon exiting their own sites. Whenever you are online, remain
Any time you download and install a new app to your smartphone, it is also important to read and review the privacy policies and terms and conditions of each individual application. With some downloadable apps, users grant the app owners permission to record sound and video while also gaining access to stored text messages, videos, and other personal and private data you have stored on your phone.
Regardless of whether or not you have heard of an app or if your friends and family members have an application installed on their own phones, it is essential to read and review the privacy policies of individual apps before using themselves. Once you have granted an application permission to access your data and information, it can be difficult, if not impossible to retain all of your files with full ownership.
Reliable VPN Can Help You Too
Purchasing a VPN, or Virtual Private Network solution is one way to drastically increase the amount of privacy and security you have online. When you use a VPN like VPNBaron, you have the ability to surf the web with complete and total anonymity, which seems rare in today’s social media society.
VPNs are optimal for anyone who uses the internet regularly, whether you do so recreationally or even for work. According to vpnAlert, with the light and fast VPN, all of the information you access, data you enter, and content you share is done so while encrypted. Encryption is key to increased online privacy, which is why using a VPN anytime you are browsing the internet is advisable to ensure you remain anonymous.
Another reason to use a VPN whenever you are logging on is the ability to do so from just about anywhere in the world by spoofing your location. Depending on your VPN provider, you will gain the ability to choose which location you want your IP address to appear in. Choosing your IP address and your location in the world is great when you are traveling internationally or accessing personal accounts online in a potentially insecure area.
Using a VPN is not only a way for you to keep your browser information to yourself, but it is a way to steer clear of becoming a target of a potential hacker or online data thief. By remaining anonymous at all times online, browse, shop, and communication with less worry over your personal information.
Keep Your Smartphone Updated
Keeping your smartphone updated is also necessary to avoid putting yourself at risk for hackers, thieves, and security breaches. Individuals who choose not to update their smartphones regularly and automatically are much more vulnerable to security loopholes, which can result in hacking attempts and data theft.
Whenever a smartphone software such as Android or iOS for Apple phones is updated, it is often done so for a good reason that is relevant to privacy and security. Updating the firmware and software of your phone regularly and automatically is highly recommended to minimize the risk of leaving your information open and accessible to hackers and data thieves.
Use Privacy Web Browsers
Another way to increase the level of privacy you have whenever you are online and browsing the web is to do so with the use of a privacy-centric web browser. Install a web browser that was developed for the sake of user privacy, such as DuckDuckGo. Using a browser such as DuckDuckoGo is a way to increase the security and privacy you have online without allowing websites or your phone itself to track your browsing history. When you use pre-installed web browsers such as Google Chrome and Internet Explorer, you are freely providing the browser creators with your personal and private information, including your browser history.
Making mobile users safer does not mean limiting access to websites, apps, and new technology. Instead, it simply involves remaining self-aware and taking the necessary precautions to prevent data breaches and opportunities for hackers and thieves to access your data online.
