How to secure your phone and make it an impregnable fortress?

Vikings live colourful lives, much of which can be learned from their… phones. Photos, contacts, apps, payments, access codes, dirty secrets… Come back! Phone protection is a crucial issue, so you don’t have to learn the hard way or cry over spilt milk. So let’s take a look 👀 at how to secure your phone on various occasions. ## **How to protect your phone from theft?** The most important thing is to develop the habit of putting your phone in your pocket – e.g., trousers or a jacket. If the pocket has a fastener, even better. The point is not to leave your phone on a shelf or table, even for a short while, outside your home. It's easy to forget and leave it behind. The person who finds it might not necessarily have good intentions. As they say… opportunity makes the thief. You must secure your phone with a PIN and – if possible – set up remote lock and phone locating modes. Phone locating will be particularly helpful in finding it after reporting the theft to the appropriate authorities. Remember, it's not just the hardware that's at stake, but also all the data stored on it – losing it or its unauthorised use can be far more damaging than losing the device itself. ## **How to protect your phone from hacking or data loss?** You can recognise a phone hack by several symptoms. If you've noticed: * a significant slowdown in your phone's performance, * frequent and unexplained logouts from apps or email accounts, * your phone restarting itself, * or any other recurring situations that haven't happened before, then download the best phone cleaning apps as soon as possible and scan your phone for malicious software. An antivirus will also be useful not only AFTER noticing something suspicious, but also BEFORE symptoms appear. Regularly scan your smartphone for viruses and strange (like Sunday dinners at the in-laws') installation files. **And** **how to protect the data on your phone** **and the device itself?** * First of all (fancy word 😁), avoid using apps and programs from unverified sources and potentially dangerous websites. This could be the end of your smartphone. * Secondly, regularly update your operating system. These updates have a deep meaning, as they often "patch" system vulnerabilities or those resulting from previous updates. * Protecting your phone and personal information also means being wary of suspicious messages. If anything raises your doubts – don't click. Remember that messages nowadays can be deceptively similar to real notifications – e.g., about a package lost by a courier or an additional – but fake – login verification. You need to be as vigilant as a double-checking dog. * Avoid browsing the internet and transferring data from public Wi-Fi networks, which can lead to unauthorized access. Malicious software loves public access points. Free Wi-Fi is tempting, but prepaid internet or a subscription is actually getting cheaper and is increasingly sensible in terms of data limits. * In both online banking and other apps that access your financial data, use two-factor authentication. Apps for authorization, such as Google Authenticator, SMS verification, or a physical USB key, will be helpful for this. * Use available protection methods, such as PIN codes, facial recognition, screen lock, device locating, or remote lock. * Remember to archive valuable data and create backups. Then, even in case of losing your phone or data, it won't be so devastating. ## **How to protect your phone before taking it to service?** There are at least as many reasons for a smartphone screen to crack as there are hairs in a Viking's luxuriant beard 🧔. And that's what the sad warrior scratches when he sees his shattered display. Only replacing the glass can fix this. Few brave souls will do it themselves, so you'll have to go to a specialist for help. Of course, a cracked screen is just one of the reasons to take your phone to service. You can also replace the integrated battery or casing, or perform a complete clean-up. Regardless of the reason, you should back up your data before handing it over to the service centre. Your migration destination can be iCloud, Google Drive, or other reputable cloud solutions. In most cases, you don't need to use long-term storage; you can just buy a monthly service for data storage. Additionally, before handing your phone over to the service centre – if you have the option – clean it of sensitive data, files, and access codes. You never know who will be fiddling with it. ### **Protecting the body of your smartphone** Last but not least – physical protection of your phone is also important. A case will not only protect your smartphone but also stylize it beautifully. If a case is too much for you, then opt for popular tempered glass. In critical moments, you'll be able to hand the phone over to your Vikids without worry. Despite their strong shoulders and characters, they certainly won't destroy such a protected phone… Probably not… Well, in any case, the risk is definitely smaller 👌.