Six tips to ensure mobile phone security

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PTA has shared useful tips to secure users’ mobile phones. Photo: File

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has shared useful tips to secure users’ mobile phones as part of its awareness campaign.

The initiative is part of a campaign started by PTA in early March as millions of mobile phone users in the country are facing security and privacy issues.

The six tips shared by PTA, which are generally recommended by cyber-security experts around the world, are as follows:

1) Always lock your mobile using a "Pin/Password" to avoid its misuse.

2) Install Apps only from "trusted app stores".

3) Turn-off bluetooth connection of device when not in use.

4) Must encrypt data on internal and external media.

5) Timely install updates/patches.

6) Always use a VPN on public Wi-Fi/un-trusted network.

Delving into details of the points, using PINs/passwords/patterns to lock phones is always highly recommended as other bio-metric technologies such as fingerprint scanner and facial recognition setup can be easily fooled or misused.

Regarding "trusted app stores", it is stressed that one must always install apps from Apple's App Store or Google Play Store. Meanwhile, Bluetooth can also present major security risks as it may connect with unwanted networks.

Installation of Android/iOS security updates and security patches is important as they secure phones and make them more invulnerable. Further, public WiFi hotspots have become one of major sources of data misuse and use of VPN to encrypt connections sounds like an impressive idea.