Today, gadgets are so functional and have such high technical specifications that they can almost completely replace the computer.
Both for entertainment and data storage and even for work. Therein lies the danger: the cell phone is considered “very private”, private, and therefore safe. But scammers regularly attack cell phones to steal personal data. Your smartphone is just as dangerous as your computer or laptop.
Personal and business correspondence is conducted from your smartphone. Photos, videos, contacts, and other data are stored on your smartphone. Payments are made using your smartphone. Managing a personal bank account is also conveniently done from a smartphone. Even access to the corporate data of your company can be tied to your smartphone. But once your smartphone falls into the wrong hands, all critical information, including sensitive information, is at risk.
Fraudsters don't have to steal your smartphone to get access to your data and your life. You can “plant” malicious software on your smartphone, leading to data theft.
In this article, the essay writer from wowessay tells you what to take care of in advance and what to do in an emergency.
1. Have an extra gadget
If there is a risk that someone can get hold of your smartphone and access personal data in the place where you are going, then, in this case, it is better to have an additional gadget and take only it with you.
This can be the most straightforward smartphone with a non-main, clean account or even a simple push-button “caller” – only for voice and texting.
Don't risk your primary smartphone, the one you use to pay for purchases, chat online, and keep in touch with co-workers.
2. Encrypt your data.
In the case of a laptop, another device to spare is hardly a convenient option. It's better to protect the data on your primary device responsibly. Besides using a login password, the most obvious way is to encrypt all your data.
If you're using Windows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro, a built-in disk encryption tool called BitLocker can help. In the case of the home version of the system, VeraCrypt will help. On a Mac, FireVault will help. We told you how to use all this in a separate article.
3. Set passwords on data folders
If you do not want to encrypt the whole disk or its partition, at least lock the essential folders so that they cannot be opened by unauthorized persons who gain access to the device. You can do it on both Windows and macOS.
You can also create password-protected folders in Google Photos. On Android, you can password lock almost any application – AppLocker helps with this. On iOS, there is Folder Lock.
4. Make backups.
Whether you use encryption or passwords, you should always back up important data, especially if you risk losing it. Ideally, upload everything to the cloud so that you can access the information from any device.
There are at least ten cloud storage sites worth considering. On laptops, you can use special backup programs.
5. Get a flash drive with a password
With the possible limitations of foreign services, it is essential to have a local backup, not on the device itself, but on a removable medium, a flash drive. The data on it can also be encrypted and optionally password-protected. There are five working methods for this.
6. Use password managers
Passwords on different devices, accounts, and services must be complex and drastically different. This will protect at least some of your data if your smartphone or laptop is hacked.
Remembering all the combinations of symbols used is quite tricky, so it's worth resorting to password managers like 1Password or LastPass – there are many options, including free ones.
7. Clean your device of sensitive information
If you don't want to encrypt data or don't believe in the reliability of this method of protection, it makes sense to delete it from your laptop or smartphone after creating a backup.
Check your messages, photos, installed apps, documents, and other files – eliminate all potentially compromising information.
8. Delete everything from the Recycle Bin without the possibility of recovery
The data you've deleted can be restored relatively quickly with several programs, even if you've cleared the “Trash.” So when the system warns that objects are erased “beyond recovery,” it's exaggerating somewhat.
To eliminate the data recovery risk, use special software that allows you to write over the deleted data from your hard drive with some digital junk.
9. Do away with biometrics
On Windows Hello laptops and smartphones, it's best to forgo unlocking via facial recognition. It's the least reliable way to protect yourself if someone grabs you and tries to access your data.
Fingerprint unlocking isn't much better, but a password or PIN is much safer.
On Windows, you can set it via “Login Options” in the account settings.
In macOS, you can do it through “System Preferences” and “Users and Groups,” turning off Touch ID as well.
In Android, under “Security” in the settings.
In iOS – “Face ID and passcode”, also in the system settings.
10. Lock the device or do a reset
If you do not have time to encrypt data or put a password, and the risk of unauthorized access to the device is extremely high, you can try to lock the gadget by typing several incorrect passwords or PINs. This is especially true for smartphones.
In the case of locking after unsuccessful login attempts, access to the device will be denied. You can return it only from another device through your account.
You can reset your smartphone to factory settings in the most urgent situation. On Android, this is usually done in the “System” section, where you need to click “Reset Settings” and specify what data is worth saving. For iOS and iPadOS, there is a separate instruction.
In the case of locking after unsuccessful login attempts, access to the device will be denied. You can return it only from another device through your account.
You can reset your smartphone to factory settings in the most urgent situation. On Android, this is usually done in the “System” section, where you need to click “Reset Settings” and specify what data is worth saving. For iOS and iPadOS, there is a separate instruction.
In the case of a laptop, if you do not have a login password, you are unlikely to be able to do anything quickly. But a remote lock from another device might come in handy later on. It is available on both Windows and macOS – you can lock it through the iCloud site or in “Locator” from your smartphone by selecting “Mark as Missing”.
