Are you attached to your iPhone? If so, you’re not alone. With an estimated 55.5 million smartphone users in the UK, Apple is comfortably the market leader. And from contacts to photos and banking, our iPhones hold so much valuable personal information that it’s only logical we protect them.
Theft and carelessness are two common problems that make taking out iPhone insurance a smart move. But another growing threat is cybersecurity, with hackers continuing to hone their tactics year after year.
Whether you consider yourself technologically savvy or uninformed, read five practical tips for protecting your iPhone from hackers below.
Avoid public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi seems like a great idea at first. You can get online without using your data allowance – and you might get a faster connection too. But it’s best to avoid using Wi-Fi in places such as shopping centres and cafes unless you’re using a virtual private network (VPN) app to protect yourself.
Public Wi-Fi can make your phone more accessible to hackers, so consider switching off Wi-Fi altogether if you’re not using it.
Use two-factor authentication (2FA)
2FA requires another form of authentication beyond a password or identity check, giving you extra protection if your password gets uncovered.
Given that so much of smartphone design is based on a need for speed and ease, 2FA is hated by some for the extra step it requires. But if you want to take security more seriously, it could be time to double layer.
Upgrade your passwords
Talking of passwords, do you consider yours secure or simply easy to remember? From social media to mobile banking apps, your personal accounts should be protected by as random an assortment of letters, numbers and characters as possible.
You should also avoid using the same password for everything – invest in a password storage app if need be.
Beware of phishing emails
Your email inbox is one of the easiest routes into your iPhone for hackers, so keep a beady eye out for any contact that looks at all suspicious.
Phishing scams are designed to lure you into spilling personal account information and can be wholly convincing. Be sure to interrogate finer details such as the email sender and the email’s visual design before clicking any links.
Keep your iOS up to date
Finally, one of the simplest ways to keep your iPhone secure is to update your iOS when prompted. Many software updates are rolled out to offer security improvements as cyberthreats emerge or become more sophisticated.
The same goes for updating your apps too, especially those that contain valuable personal information. You could even set up automatic installs to save yourself the effort.
Love them or loathe them, iPhones are powerful inventions that many of us now rely on heavily. Follow the tips above to keep your phone and data protected from hackers.
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