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Educate Yourself on Best Cybersecurity Practices
Effectively educating yourself on the top cybersecurity practices frequently will ensure your privacy and safety on your device. When your phone is not secure, data leakage is extremely common. We all use our mobile devices to browse the internet, apps, and most commonly email. Email phishing and spam attacks are huge and can be a huge breach of your data if you are not addressing them immediately. Know the signs of scams so you can help fight fraud. AbbyBank has a Scam Prevention page where you will find the latest scams and learn how to prevent them from happening to you.
Secure Your Phone
Accurately securing your phone is crucial to good cybersecurity. Having a password is key to ensuring your phone’s security. Creating a good password, whether that be a combination of numbers and letters, your fingerprint, facial recognition, or even eye recognition will boost strong security. It is very smart to also have your apps password protected with a strong password to add another layer of security.
If possible, incorporate a two-factor authentication. This is a great option for apps you use less frequently or that have a lot of personal data in them. When using two-factor authentication you will first enter a password. You then will receive a code via email, phone, or SMS to enter to get into your account.
Avoid Public or Open Wi-Fi Networks
I know we all have times where we are reliant on a good internet connection but try as much as possible to not connect to public or open Wi-Fi networks. Public and open networks bring many threats to your device as they are visible to anyone on that network. Never log into your online banking or other apps and websites that contain confidential information on a public or open Wi-Fi network.
If you absolutely need internet, utilize your data plan, or install a VPN to keep your phone secure and hidden from open networks. This is a reminder if your home internet or hotspot isn’t password-protected, do it now!
Update Your Applications and Device
It is very important to frequently update your applications and device software. If you get a notification something needs an update, do it as soon as you possibly can. Many devices and apps allow you to set up automatic updates. Setting up automatic updates means your device or app will automatically update whenever an update is available to ensure potential security vulnerabilities are patched as soon as possible to better protect you from being hacked. When you install an application, read through the user permissions to know what it needs access to. Only give permissions when you are running the app, not at all times. If there is an app you are not using, be sure to shut off those permissions or delete the app altogether. If you don’t intend to use the app for video or photo use but it asks for it, it may not be the best app to install.
Our lives are very much on our mobile devices, so it is very important that we have good practices in place to combat cyber threats. Incorporate these tips or use them as a checklist to ensure your device and your data are secure.
