The NSA Recommendation For Your Smart Phone

Despite the immense productivity and convenience that come from using a smartphone, it’s imperative to remember that these devices are miniature computers in our pockets. This means that they are just as susceptible to threats as a computer or laptop. According to the National Security Agency, powering down your device is one of the most effective ways to protect your smartphone from various threats. Listed below is why.

Why Powering Your Phone Down Just Works

There are smartphone threats that require no interaction from you whatsoever, and that should be a cause for concern on your part.

The good news: spear phishing and zero-click exploits can be disrupted by powering down your device. The NSA recommends that you do this on a weekly basis as a best practice, just in case these issues are running in the background on your device without your knowledge. While it’s not a silver bullet for your device’s security issues, it is one measure you can take that can lead to very real results.

What about the other threats? What can you do about them?

Other Threats (And What To Do)

Due to the increased prevalence of mobile devices, it’s no wonder that hackers have developed threats that can exploit the cracks in their defenses. It can be easy to download malicious apps without even knowing it, especially if you’re not vetting them from app stores. Additionally, you can connect to malicious wireless networks that can hijack your device or spy on your device usage. It’s not unheard of for these threats to steal your data, and you should be worried—especially if you’re a bit too lax in the way you use your device.

The NSA’s List of Best Practices

All is not lost; you have several best practices that can make it less likely you’ll experience a smartphone security disaster. Here’s a brief list of action items to consider:

• Keep your apps up to date with the latest patches and security fixes.
• Only download apps from official app stores.
• Don’t click on links or download files from emails or text messages.
• Connect to secure public wireless networks (and use a virtual private network when you can’t).
• Disable Bluetooth when not in use.
• Implement a secure passcode that is at least six digits in length.
• Utilize biometrics, such as a fingerprint scanner or face recognition feature.
• Only use trusted accessories and charging cables.
• Turn off your location services when you don’t need them.

For more great tips on how to stay secure with your devices, be sure to contact Macro Systems at 703-359-9211.