5 tips to protect your personal data on your phone

Is it then safe to surf the Internet and shop through it? Or is it that every time we do it, we are compromising our information, divulging pins, credit cards, among others?

As we all know, we live in the era of technology, and devices connected to the Internet, and especially smartphones, are already part of our daily lives. This has brought many benefits, but also some doubts, especially regarding the security of our personal data.

Well, first of all it is important to understand that we share this huge virtual space with billions of other users. As such, there are some basic behaviors and principles that we must follow in order to have our personal information always kept confidential and to surf the internet safely.

We have then selected 5 tips that should be followed to reduce your risks and ensure the security and protection of your data on the phone.

  1. Create strong and secure passwords

The old advice is still valid today: take some time to review your passwords and avoid those that are more fragile and easy to discover. You would be amazed at how many people choose passwords that are considered weak!
You should stay out of the choice of birthday dates, basic sequences, names of family members, pets or favorite teams and anything that is easy to relate to you. Make them more elaborate by mixing upper and lower case letters, numbers and even special characters. Ideally, you’ll always create random, hard-to-repeat passwords. Don’t forget to also use a password for your most important applications, or even a screen unlock code.

  1. Be careful with public Wi-Fi networks

Currently, the vast majority of establishments have Internet. In some places the connection is made by the browser very easily and allows to enjoy the Internet without

spend the data package. But be careful, always pay special attention when connecting to a public wi-fi network. Never access confidential content, especially online bank accounts, and avoid entering sites or applications that require you to enter any of your passwords. Don’t forget that you are only one of the dozens or hundreds of cell phones and devices connected to this network, which makes access to your information much easier. If you access “familiar” or “home” networks, your device may be protected by a firewall and a user-specific network password.

  1. Always use antivirus

One of the most important things in any device is the antivirus. This security software allows you to detect external threats or any attempt to intrude on your phone and consequent personal data. It is very important that you install this type of program and keep it constantly updated to prevent a vulnerability on your cell phone from breaking down your security. Before installing any type of antivirus, get informed and know that there are some paid and others not. Make a brief study about the best options available, so you don?t regret the end result of the software.

  1. Pay attention to what you download

There is a huge amount of content available on the internet. From applications to videos or images shared in links, when something arises our first thought is to open or download the file for your use. Often this is a mistake, because we are downloading a virus that will compromise the security of our personal data. Always avoid opening or downloading any type of file from unreliable sources, and be very careful when installing software or applications from unofficial sources. You can reduce the risk by installing applications only from major stores like Google Play or Apple Store, but even legitimate applications may collect information from you. That’s why you need to check the application’s permissions before installing it, to know what information it will have access to.

  1. Format your phone when you exchange it

Finally, a very important tip. Don’t forget to clean your phone before you exchange it, sell it, donate it, or throw it away. Hackers and criminals can easily recover deleted information, so it’s not enough just to delete existing applications or photos. You need to restore the factory settings by deleting any traces that may remain. You definitely don’t want the information you had on your old phone to fall into the wrong hands!

These are then some of the tips we have left to ensure greater security of your personal data on your phone. Don’t forget that prevention is the biggest weapon against the loss of your personal data.

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