Staying Secure When You Go Mobile
When we’re on the go, so are our devices. Our smartphones and tablets are part of daily life.
We use them to stay connected to work, school, news and our loved ones wherever we are. While there are real perks to how connected the world is, with all the convenience comes a few things to remember to keep your personal and financial information safe.
Always Use Strong Passcodes and Auto-Lock
Having your phone automatically lock every time you stop using it might seem annoying. But if your device is ever lost or stolen it becomes a lifesaver. Think of all the important information you keep on your device; would you want it to end up in the hands of a stranger or even a thief? Always use a strong password or code that contains random characters that are difficult to guess. Many newer devices even have security features like facial recognition and touch identification that you can enable. Pairing these strong logins with auto-lock keeps your device and everything on it secure.
Turn Off Wireless, Bluetooth and Location Services When Not in Use
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and location services allow you to connect to other devices and make things like directions and weather updates possible. While these services are useful, they can also leave your device open to unwanted connections and tracking. It’s important to keep these things in mind when using your mobile device and turn off these services when you’re not using them.
Stay up to date with Operating Systems and Apps
Operating Systems and apps are a vital piece of your mobile device, so it is important to keep them updated. While it might be easy to ignore all the update requests, updating them not only gives you improved features, but it also introduces security patches that keep your information secure. If this seems like an impossible task, consider deleting apps you no longer use to streamline the process, so you don’t forget, and leave yourself in a potentially risky situation.
Utilize Security and Privacy Settings
Your mobile device has financial data, emails, photos and more just a swipe away. Anything from downloads to connecting to unsecured WI-FI can potentially compromise that information. It’s important to download and use only trusted apps from the App Store® or Google Play™. Make sure you go in and customize the security and privacy settings for each app you use. Also, avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi when logging into sensitive accounts like online banking and your email, instead use your mobile network or a personal hotspot.
Beware of Suspicious Messages
Your mobile device is the latest way for fraudsters to try to scam you. Whether it’s emails, text messages or spoofed phone calls, you should be on the lookout for anything that looks suspicious. When in doubt, don’t open, tap or reply. Remember that most urgent, unsolicited requests for personal data, money or immediate action are scams.
Taking a few extra steps to protect yourself from potential security breaches while you’re out and about is more than worth it. If you’d like to take advantage of even more security features, learn more about our Diamond Secure Account, an advanced checking account that features Identity Theft Monitoring and Resolution services.