Despite the conscious efforts of smartphone manufacturers to make smartphones more secure, our smartphones remain porous. The Government and criminal hackers still have remote access to our smartphones. They are able to spy on us via our smartphones, listening to us via our smartphone mic, and getting videos via our smartphone camera. In this article, we explore possible ways to safeguard your smartphone against spyware. These methods may not completely secure your phone, but they go a long way in securing the data on your phone.
1. Don’t Trust Strangers With Your Phone
As casual as it may sound, giving your smartphone to a stranger who has intentions of tapping information from your phone, can make your smartphone porous. This is true because hackers can install apps spyware on your smartphone, that will allow them to tap information from your smartphone remotely. So if anyone asks for your smartphone, you are strongly advised on keeping an eye on them.
2. Be Careful With Your Download Sources
Download from wrong sources is another way to make your smartphone porous. Downloading from wrongs source may lead to the inclusion of spyware in the files you download. To keep your phone safe, you are advised to download apps from reputable app stores. If you own an Android device, you are advised to download apps from the Google PlayStore and if you own an Apple device, you are advised to download apps from the Apple App store.
3. Use Strong Passwords
Using strong passwords is another way to safeguard your smartphones from spyware. This is the reason most platforms require you to make use of strong passwords, passwords that include numbers, symbols, and letters. If a hacker gains physical access to your smartphone, downloading spyware into your phone would be difficult, because of the password set.
4. Set Download Passwords
Still on hackers gaining physical access to your smartphone, Another way to prevent hackers from downloading spyware to your smartphone, is by setting download passwords.
These download passwords will be requested immediately the hacker clicks the download button.
5. Use Anti-Malware
Anti-Malware is actually the surest way to safeguard your smartphone from malware. Once installed on your smartphone, the Anti-malware app will alert you when spyware is detected. Anti-Malware apps can be downloaded from the Google PlayStore. You are advised to go for the paid versions because they are more effective.
6. Be Careful With Bluetooth and WIFI Connections
Another way hackers can spy on you via your phone is through unsecured wifi and Bluetooth connections. You are advised to meticulously scrutinize the Bluetooth and wifi connections before you join them. You are advised to only join trustworthy wifi and Bluetooth connections.
7. Be Careful With App Agreements
It is a popular fact that there are app agreements can be very lengthy. This is because the developer makes sure he or she exhausts all the agreements needed to be brought to your notice. Despite the length of these agreements, it is imperative that you read through them because sometimes these agreements include the installation of some features that will make your smartphone porous.
8. Learn How to Read the Signs
Having read all the above methods to safeguarding your phone against spyware, it is also important you know how to spot this spyware in your phone. You should be aware that the installation of spyware comes with a lot of noticeable changes.
For example, your smartphone may restart frequently, you may observe drastic draining of your battery, the speed of your smartphone may also decrease, the brightness of your smartphone may decrease and increase on its own. These are some of the signs that indicate the installation of spyware. Once noticed, you advised to completely format your phone, to completely eliminate this spyware.
9. Keep Your Confidential Information Safe
Still on the topic of ways to safeguard your phone against spyware, keeping your confidential information safe is another sure method.
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Most third party apps require you to fill in your particulars, to get registered. You are strongly advised to put in wrong information, use a temporary email if you are not sure of such platforms.
10. Install Original Apps Only
Installing pirated apps on your phone is another sure way to getting spyware on your phone. Downloading pirated apps to bypass payments on apps is common these days. People choose to download pirated pro versions of apps, to avoid paying premiums. Be aware that these pirated apps usually come with spyware. As difficult at it may be, you strongly advised staying off pirated apps, to keep your phone and information in it safe.
There you have it – 10 sure ways to safeguard your phone against spyware. If you have other recommendations, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.