How to Protect Your Cell Phone Privacy
Source: Freepik.com
The advancement of technology and the need to stay connected on the go have forced people to rely heavily on cell phones. With these increased functionalities, smartphones have become vulnerable to online threats, such as hacking and compromised privacy. Here are a few methods to improve the privacy of your mobile devices and play your role in safeguarding the digital realm.
Ensure Public or Free Wifi is Protected
You may be tempted to use free wifi, especially if your data plan is limited and about to reach its limit. But this can turn out to be very expensive because open networks may allow cybercriminals to access your passwords and other sensitive information.
Sometimes, it can only take a few seconds for your data to land in the wrong hands because it is a piece of cake for skilled cybercriminals to hack cell phones. The good news is that there are applications that can protect you from wifi hackers and notify you about the status of the wifi you are connecting to.
To protect your phone from wifi hacking, you can:
- Use the apps that give protection against cybercriminals trying to hack into your phone.
- Connect with WPA instead of WEP, as it is more secure.
- Turn off the Wi-Fi connectivity of your phone when not using it.
Use the GBWhatsApp Instead
Improved privacy is one of the many useful features introduced by GBWhatsApp APK. Here are some useful privacy features of using this App.
Hide Last Seen: GBWhatsApp allows you to pause showing your ‘last seen status’.
Disable Forward Tag: Forward messages multiple times without having to worry about the ‘Forward’ tag on your messages.
Who Can Call Me?: This app allows selecting who can call you, from these options:
- Everyone
- Nobody
- Only Contacts
Secure Your Lock Screen
Some people don’t secure their lock screen because having to type the password every time they want to check the phone is a pain. If you are one of them, you may want to set a lock on your screen immediately.
Remember, if you leave your phone unattended for a while or lose it, anyone can easily have access to the data stored on it. This data can include your family photos, saved passwords, social media apps, bank accounts, and more.
Limit What Your Apps Can Access
When you install a new application, your cell phone shows a popup asking you to confirm the app’s access requirements. While installing new applications, it is crucial to read the access terms carefully and only allow the necessary access. Many softwares make extra money selling your data to advertisers, who may also misuse it.
So, allow the permissions smartly. For instance, a photo editing app doesn’t need access to your contacts. If you are installing a picture editor, do not allow it access to your contacts. Or try installing another editing app because the one asking for extra permissions would sound suspicious. You can also opt to allow permissions only while using the app.
