# Five ways to keep your personal data safe from hackers
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-10-24
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Protect Your Data: How To Safeguard Your Mobile Phone
Meta Description: Discover how to protect your personal data on your mobile phone with these top tips from leading insurance provider, Insurance2go.
URL: https://financedigest.com/five-ways-to-keep-your-personal-data-safe-from-hackershtml

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New research reveals that nearly half (49%) of UK adults have not installed or didn’t know whether their mobile phone has security software1. So keeping personal data safe from hackers has never been more important.

In the wrong hands, stolen data can be used by hackers for illegal activity such as applying for loans or credit cards under a victim’s name, or bank accounts being accessed and money withdrawn4.

To help keep data safe, leading insurance provider, [Insurance2go](https://www.insurance2go.co.uk/) , shares five ways mobile phone users can help to protect personal data stored on their device.

1. **Be cautious of public Wi-Fi**


Using public Wi-Fi is great for those who have a low data allowance, or are running out of mobile data. However, public [networks often don’t provide a secure](https://www.financedigest.com/new-demands-on-network-security.html "NEW DEMANDS ON NETWORK SECURITY") connection, making it easy for hackers to use them to access personal data.

Hackers targeting public Wi-Fi hotspots are able to use what is known as a ‘man-in-the-middle’ attack6, which is when a hacker intercepts financial information, passwords and log-in information through a public network.

Always avoid using [mobile banking apps](https://www.financedigest.com/why-you-should-use-a-mobile-banking-app-and-how-to-make-the-most-of-it.html "Why You Should Use a Mobile Banking App – and How to Make the Most of It") or making online purchases whilst logged onto a public Wi-Fi network. For those who do need to use public Wi-Fi, use a Virtual [Private Network](https://www.financedigest.com/the-new-wifi-how-private-5g-networks-could-revolutionise-business.html "The New WiFi? How Private 5G Networks Could Revolutionise Business") (VPN) app. A VPN can [protect](https://www.financedigest.com/modern-data-protection-how-organisations-can-protect-against-cyber-attacks.html "Modern Data Protection: How organisations can protect against cyber attacks") data from getting into the wrong hands by encrypting online data and keeping personal information secure when using a public Wi-Fi connection6.

2. **[Turn off ‘sharing’ settings](https://www.financedigest.com/the-great-resignation-is-set-to-turn-into-the-great-uncertainty.html "The Great Resignation is set to turn into The Great Uncertainty") when not in use**


Smartphone features that [share a location should be used with caution](https://www.financedigest.com/ups-shares-fall-as-consumer-caution-dims-e-commerce-outlook.html "UPS shares fall as consumer caution dims e-commerce outlook") and always turned off when not in use. Features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, location services, mobile [data and Near](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-tiktok-nears-deal-with-oracle-to-store-its-data-sources.html "Exclusive-TikTok nears deal with Oracle to store its data-sources") Field Communication (NFC) are susceptible to hacking, especially Bluetooth location services as they transmit a device’s location and presence.

Hackers can easily get hold of personal information and [data through features that mark](https://www.financedigest.com/vaccine-and-infection-data-mark-small-victories-in-omicron-battle.html "Vaccine and infection data mark small victories in Omicron battle") a phone as ‘visible’5, so always make sure to disable such features when they are not needed.

3. **Only download legitimate apps**


Downloading illegitimate [apps is another way to open your personal data](https://www.financedigest.com/data-privacy-and-navigation-how-our-personal-data-is-used-in-navigation-apps.html "Data Privacy and Navigation: How our personal data is used in Navigation Apps.") up to hackers. Often, apps hosted on some websites or third-party app [stores](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-given-fourth-dutch-fine-in-app-store-dispute.html "Apple given fourth Dutch fine in App Store dispute") can contain malware and can access data once downloaded6. It’s recommended that users only download apps from the official [app stores](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-must-ease-app-store-rules-u-s-judge-orders-in-a-blow-to-iphone-maker.html "Apple must ease App Store rules, U.S. judge orders, in a blow to iPhone maker"), so App Store for iOS users, Google Play for Android users or the AppGallery for Huawei owners.

4. **Be wary of app permissions**


When an app is first downloaded, it often asks for ‘permission’ to access certain [features or information held on a mobile](https://www.financedigest.com/feature-africas-mobile-money-taxes-risk-driving-poor-out-of-digital-economy.html "FEATURE-Africa’s mobile money taxes risk driving poor out of digital economy") phone. From the camera roll, to your speaker, location or phone contact list, apps can ask for a range of permissions in order for certain functions to work.

Be cautious of what information an app is requesting access to and question whether the app actually needs that information. For example, a photo [editing app](https://www.financedigest.com/innovative-apps-to-foster-the-growth-of-gene-editing-technologies-market.html "Innovative apps to foster the growth of Gene Editing Technologies Market") doesn’t need contact list information in order to function correctly, so take the time to properly think about whether or not that information is needed7.

Viral video app, TikTok, recently came under fire for security issues in the US, with reports claiming that the Pentagon warned U.S. military personnel in January to delete TikTok from their phones and India, [last month](https://www.financedigest.com/monkeypox-emergency-could-last-months-with-window-closing-to-stop-spread-experts-say.html "Monkeypox emergency could last months, with window closing to stop spread, experts say"), banned Tik-Tok amongst other apps, over security and privacy concerns10. so it’s [always important](https://www.financedigest.com/having-a-will-is-always-important-but-why-is-it-so-much-more-important-when-a-child-is-vulnerable-or-has-a-disability.html "Having a Will is always Important but Why is it so Much More Important When a Child is Vulnerable or has a Disability? ") to review what permissions are being asked for by an app.

5. **Avoid using auto-login**


Whilst it’s recommended to have a variety of passwords for online accounts rather than the same password, auto-login gives hackers easy [access to personal data by simply opening](https://www.financedigest.com/the-open-banking-revolution-enabling-accessible-and-inclusive-finance.html "The open banking revolution – enabling accessible and inclusive finance") up an app or webpage. For those likely to forget multiple passwords, note them down in a secure, password protected note on a phone, or in a notebook that is kept secure and stored away.

And it’s not just using your mobile phone that can open your personal data up to hackers. What happens if your mobile phone is lost or stolen? Insurance2go  shares some useful tips for people who might find themselves in this scenario and want to [keep their personal data safe:](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-cloud-how-to-keep-your-data-safe.html "The Future of Cloud: How to Keep Your Data Safe")

1. Firstly, report the phone as missing to the network provider, who can suspend or disconnect the service to the phone. This can help stop any authorised use of the phone if it falls into the wrong hands.

2. If the mobile phone is known to be stolen, inform the police who will be able to provide a crime number, which can be used if the user needs to inform an insurance provider.

3. Most smartphones now have a built in ‘kill switch’, which can allow a [user to remotely deactivate a device](https://www.financedigest.com/signalling-device-market-competitive-growth-strategies-based-on-type-applications-end-user-and-region.html "Signalling Device Market Competitive Growth Strategies Based on Type, Applications, End User and Region") if it’s lost or stolen. In order to work, the feature needs to be enabled. For iPhone users, the ‘Activation Lock’ can be enabled within the ‘Find My’ app to help keep [data safe](https://www.financedigest.com/your-money-is-safe-but-your-data-might-not-be.html "YOUR MONEY IS SAFE, BUT YOUR DATA MIGHT NOT BE"). Firstly, go to the ‘Find My’ app > Tap the devices tab and choose which device is lost or stolen, then tap Activate under ‘Mark as Lost’ and follow the prompts on screen. Android users can enable the kill switch with ‘Find My Device’. Go to Settings > Google > Security, then turn on ‘Remotely locate this device’ and ‘Allow remote lock and erase’.

4. Finally, immediately change passwords for any accounts or [apps that can be accessed on the mobile](https://www.financedigest.com/the-growth-of-mobile-fintech-and-the-impact-for-mobile-app-marketers.html "The growth of mobile fintech and the impact for mobile app marketers") phone. Prioritise any important accounts first, such as online [banking and other associated accounts](https://www.financedigest.com/lebanese-bank-closes-over-30-british-held-accounts-after-uk-ruling-depositors-group.html "Lebanese bank closes over 30 British-held accounts after UK ruling-depositors’ group").


**Richard Gray, Head of [Marketing and Digital](https://www.financedigest.com/the-global-digital-label-printing-market-will-grow-at-a-significant-cagr-throughout-2020-2030.html "The Global Digital Label Printing Market Will Grow At A Significant CAGR Throughout 2020-2030"), at Insurance2go said**: “Our mobile phones are home to lots of stored data and without correctly protecting your personal information, it could easily land in the wrong hands.

“‘SIM-jacking’ is a common method where [hackers are able to use stolen data](https://www.financedigest.com/frances-thales-says-hackers-claim-to-have-stolen-data.html "France’s Thales says hackers claim to have stolen data") to obtain a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC). This can then be used to switch the victim’s phone [number](https://www.financedigest.com/your-phone-number-on-google-search-giant-now-takes-removal-demands.html "Your phone number on Google? Search giant now takes removal demands") to another phone on another network, helping them gain access to a range of personal data and information, often including banking details.

“Protecting [data](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-organisations-can-stay-protected-from-financial-data-breaches.html "How Financial Organisations can Stay Protected from Financial Data Breaches ") stored on a mobile phone is extremely important. Hackers are often creating new ways to get a hold of our data, so we [hope that by sharing](https://www.financedigest.com/sas-bridge-financing-keeps-survival-hopes-airborne-shares-climb.html "SAS bridge financing keeps survival hopes airborne, shares climb") our tips, we can help people avoid getting caught out by fraudsters.”


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