Archives - Security Best Practice


Be careful with whom you share remote computer control

Remote computer control can be useful when troubleshooting if you need someone else to view what’s on your computer. However, when you share that control they’ll have full access to everything on your computer. Only give control to people you can trust. Also, make sure you’re aware of how to instantly cancel the remote control, […]

Get a new phone, laptop or tablet if it’s no longer receiving security updates

Devices such as these only receive security updates for a certain period of time, generally three to five years. Take note of whether your device is still receiving security updates (it may automatically inform you when time expires), and don’t use it beyond its intended lifespan.

Use biometrics or a PIN

Biometrics includes data such as your fingerprint or face, which can be used to unlock your phone or log into apps. These tend to be much faster than typing in a password, and they’re generally secure. On the other hand, biometrics aren’t 100% secure and a stranger may still be able to unlock your phone. […]

Don’t “sideload” an app onto your device unless you’re absolutely sure it’s safe

Most phones allow you to add apps to them manually, without using traditional stores such as Google Play and the Apple App Store. While these apps may seem useful, there’s no reliable way to tell if they’re completely safe. It’s best to avoid sideloading apps altogether unless you’re completely sure the app is legitimate.

Avoid using a credit card swipe if possible

Modern credit cards often have three mechanisms for in-person purchases – swiping, chip insertion and tapping. From a security perspective, chip insertion and tapping are much more secure and should be used if available. Mobile tap-to-pay solutions like Apple Pay and G Pay are also very secure.

Factory reset your phone before getting rid of it

Whether you’re trading it in, donating it or handing it off for any reason, you’ll want to wipe all the data from your phone before doing so. While the process for this varies by phone, you can easily find out how by searching your settings for something that says “Factory reset” or “Return to factory […]