A strong screen lock
Set a PIN of at least six digits or a password, and use biometrics as a convenient extra. Hide notification content on the lock screen.
Security
Security
Almost every thread of your digital life runs through your phone: the email used to reset passwords, messaging apps, your bank, photos of documents. So what needs protecting is not so much the device itself as access to it and to your accounts. Below are habits that cover the most common risks and need no special knowledge.
You can always buy a new phone, but rescuing the email account that every other password is reset through can take a long time.
How this section works: we describe risks and protective habits in general terms, without naming apps or services. We do not publish instructions for hacking, bypassing locks or gaining special privileges in the system.
Screen lock and account
The first line of defence is the screen and your main account.
Two-factor authentication
Turn on two-step sign-in for your main account and email: even if your password leaks, nobody gets in without the second step. Keep recovery codes away from the phone.
Timely updates
Do not put off system updates for weeks: many of them fix vulnerabilities that attackers already know about.
Apps and permissions
An app gets only what you allow it to have.
Official store only
Install apps from your platform's official store. Files from emails, chats and random websites may contain malicious code.
Sensible permissions
A flashlight does not need your contacts, and a calculator does not need your microphone. Every few months, open the permissions list and turn off anything unnecessary.
Old apps
Remove apps you have not used for a long time: an abandoned app stops getting updates but still keeps its data and permissions.
Loss and theft
What to do if your phone is not with you and does not seem likely to turn up on its own.
Locate and lock
From another device, sign in to your account and use the finder feature: make the phone ring, show a message with a contact on its screen, or lock it. Erase the data only if you no longer hope to get the phone back.
Call your carrier
Ask your mobile carrier to block the SIM card so nobody receives your SMS codes. Then change the passwords for your email, bank and main accounts.
The IMEI number
IMEI is a unique 15-digit mobile device number. On most phones, dialling *#06# displays it. Write it down in advance and keep it with your documents: you may need it when contacting the police or your carrier.
Related reading
- Tools
Features built into almost any smartphone: device finder, password storage, backup, parental controls, battery saver and system updates.
- Fixes
Battery draining fast, storage full, signal dropping, phone getting hot, screen frozen: what you can safely check yourself without opening the device.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, about switching and choosing a smartphone, about protecting data and lost devices.
What we relied on
- Digital security recommendations for users
- Official help centres of mobile operating system developers
Dates and definitions were checked against the official help materials of operating system developers at the time of writing. Mobile systems are updated regularly, so menu names and steps on your device may change over time.