It's no secret that if our technology isn't adequately secured, we might become targets for viruses and cyber attacks. There is no manual that comes with a phone that teaches the user how to secure their mobile device. Furthermore, risks are always changing and adapting to our routines.

We provide you with 6 tips as mobile security guidelines to keep your device safe and to help you navigate your smartphone safely.

1. Keep Your Phone Locked

If your smartphone is stolen, the theif will have total access to your personal information. To avoid this, make sure your screen is locked. It's up to you and your device's capabilities whether you use a passcode, pattern, fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You may choose how long the phone can be idle before locking it when you enable a lock screen. Make sure to select the smallest period of time. This will protect you by activating the lock screen automatically even if you fail to lock it yourself. It will also save your battery by turning off the screen when a certain period of time has passed.

2. Set Secure Passwords

It will be more difficult for a hacker to guess your app passwords if you choose strong passwords. It's also a good idea to give each app its own password. This way, if a single password is cracked, the hacker will not have access to all of your data.

3. Keep Your Device’s Operating System Up-To-Date

Updates to your mobile phone's operating system are designed to improve your experience. This could include everything from speed to security. Despite the fact that they occur regularly and consumers tend to click through quickly or ask the device to remember them in the future, it's critical to stay on top of them. Both iOS and Android devices can be protected with these updates from newly found malware. Go to "about phone" or "general" and click "system updates" or "software update" to see if your phone's OS is up to date.

4. Beware of Downloads

When downloading apps, make sure you get them from the legitimate app stores and read the reviews. To collect customers' sensitive information, cybercriminals construct rogue mobile apps that imitate well-known businesses. To avoid falling into this trap, check the amount of reviews, the most recent update, and the organization's contact information.

5. Don’t Jailbreak or Root Your Phone

When you jailbreak or root your phone, you unlock it and bypass the manufacturer's security measures, allowing you to access anything you want. It may be tempting to jailbreak or root your phone in order to have access to app shops other than the official ones, but doing so puts your phone in grave danger. These unauthorised marketplaces sell programmes that have not been reviewed and can simply hack into your phone and steal your data and personal information.

6. Encrypt Your Data

Your smartphone has a lot of information on it. Your emails, contacts or bank information could be at risk if it's lost or stolen. You should ensure that your mobile phone data is encrypted to protect it. Data that has been encrypted is kept in an unreadable format that cannot be decrypted.

For iOS devices, in the security section on most phones, you can enable encryption. Go to the settings menu and select "Touch ID & Passcode" to see if your iOS device is encrypted. It will ask you to input the code for your lock screen. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page, where "Data Protection is enabled" should appear.

To encrypt an Android, make sure it's at least 80% charged and unroot it before proceeding. After you've completed these steps, go to "Security" and select "Encrypt Phone." You risk losing all of your data if you don't charge your device, unroot it, or interrupt the encryption process. Encryption can take up to an hour or more to complete.