Are U Mobile Secure?
Being digital should be convenient, flexible, and most of all, safe. Here’s a list of the things you need to watch out for to make sure that you are mobile-safe.
Security Issue # 1:
Your Seatmate Can See Your Messages
People around you can peek at your messages, see where your next dinner is, or mess with the latest likes and comments on your social media posts even when your phone is locked. Your privacy is compromised.
Security Tip
You can choose which apps are allowed to pop screen notifications on your device. For Android users, go to Settings -> Apps & Notifications -> App Notifications and tap on the individual apps to turn off the notifications you’d rather not show on your screen. For iOS users, go to Settings -> Notifications and set the preview styles and notification styles per app.
Security Issue # 2:
Google Maps Knows All the Places You've Been To
Google Maps knows where you have been and where you are (restaurants you’ve dined in, cinemas you went to, your house number, etc.). Once your phone lands in someone else’s hands, they can view your usual whereabouts with only a few swipes on your screen.
Security Tip
If you want to delete your location history in Google Maps, swipe from the upper-left edge, click on Settings -> Maps History -> Menu (triple-dot button), and Delete activity. Or you can opt to keep your locations from being saved. Upon swiping from the upper-left edge, click on Your Timeline -> Menu -> Location History is on, and a toggle switch to turn it off.
Security Issue # 3:
Do You Know Who is Using Your Camera and Microphone?
Disallow apps from using your camera, microphone, and even your location if there’s no use for it. Apps ask for permission to access specific data on your phone, such as a microphone, contacts, photos, etc. You can set which data is accessible to particular apps.
Security Tip
Facebook Messenger, for instance, asks for microphone access for the voice memo function. But if you don’t plan on ever using that feature, you might as well disable it.
For Android users, you can manage app permissions by going to Settings -> Apps or Application Manager, choose a specific app, tap Permissions, and choose particular permissions to update. For iOS, go to Settings -> Privacy, choose specific permission, and set which app can access it.
Security Issue # 4:
Does Anyone Else Know Your Password?
Passwords.google.com helps you check if your password has been compromised, and will recommend you to change it so that no cyber thief can take over your email account.
Security Tip
If you don’t use Gmail, you can also visit haveibeenpwned.com to check if data breaches have compromised your email. Make sure to change your passwords from time to time so that you are not compromised.
Security Issue # 5:
Don't Remember Your Passwords, Manage Them
Passwords are tedious and hard to remember, especially now that we have dozens of online accounts to maintain. This is where password managers can come in handy. Think of it as a digital book that stores all your passwords and other sensitive information. It can also generate new unique passwords for your new accounts. For iOS, you can use Keychain to manage your passwords.
Security Tip
To enable it, go to Settings -> tap your Apple ID banner -> iCloud -> Keychain -> toggle the switch on and enter your Apple ID password if prompted. For Android users, you have the option to choose among many password managers, such as Dashlane, LastPass, 1Password, etc.