Smartphones are the millennial's answer to the disorganized life. You can buy anything with just a few swipes, schedule appointments and store photos in this one, convenient spot. Unfortunately, all of that convenience comes at a price. Your mobile devices pose an inherent risk to your security if they fall into the wrong hands. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your phone and information.
Here are 6 tips for keeping your device safe and secure.
Keep your phone locked
If your entire life is on your phone, you run the risk of giving a thief access to your identity if it's stolen or misplaced. The best way to prevent this from happening is to have a lock on your screen. Opt for fingerprint or face recognition. Finally, adjust your phone's lock settings so the screen automatically locks after the shortest amount of idle time.
Choose strong, unique passwords across all your devices and apps
Passwords should be a blend of letters with varied capitalization use, numbers and symbols. Use a different password for each device, app and other online accounts. Also, change up your passwords every six months or so. Don't store the info for all your passwords in one location on your phone, or have your device "remember" passwords.
Browse safely
Never share your personally identifiable information with an unknown contact. Look for the padlock icon and "s" after "http" in the URL of each landing page you visit.
Use the tips outlined here to keep your device safe from fraud.
