Archives - Mobile Security


Consider turning off lock screen notifications

Lockscreen alerts are useful for conveying at-a-glance information. They’re also possibly risky if your device falls into the wrong hands, as they might give away sensitive details. You can either turn them off and stick to badges and the pull-down alert menu (available on both iOS and Android) or use a phone with facial recognition, […]

Know your options for remote device wipe

Losing a device is never fun. You lose an important tool while also potentially putting your data at risk, too. Services like Find My iPhone provide some recourse, since they allow you to remotely wipe the device, erasing all of its contents and settings so that no one else has access to them.

Use cellular connectivity or a VPN when traveling

When you’re on the go, connecting to a public Wi-Fi network or even one managed by a hotel might seem like the best option for internet access. There is significant risk, though, as you can’t be sure the connection is safe. Sticking to cellular is advisable, as is using a virtual private network (VPN) when […]

Handle QR codes with care

QR codes are useful for finding more information on something, plus many stores use them for checkout. When you scan them yourself, be wary of any code that doesn’t provide any context on what it will link to. Many will send you to a web page when scanned by your device’s camera, so there’s some […]

Use mobile payment options instead of credit cards

Many smartphones now contain NFC chips that allow them to be tapped at point-of-sale terminals. Payment options like Apple Pay are both convenient and highly secure, since they don’t transmit your actual card number to a merchant, only a unique identifier associated with your device.

Revert your mobile phone to factory settings before giving it away

Thinking of recycling, trading or handing down your mobile phone? Make sure to do a factory reset (after backing up your data) so that the new recipient won’t be able to see anything you left behind.