How to secure your phone from hackers: 12 best ways

We will provide brief, step-by-step instructions to explain how to secure the phone from hackers and describe the fastest ways to combat scammers and cybercriminals who want to hack your smartphone. The information is relevant for everyone who use iOS and Android gadgets.

12 ways to protect your phone from hacking

Once you know in detail how to secure your phone from hackers, each method will take from a few seconds to a few minutes to activate. After that, your bank cards, personal data and content, as well as your business and other important information, will be absolutely safe.

1. Download a VPN application

Unprotected data can be read and used by almost anyone who wants to. With a VPN, cybercriminals won't have this opportunity. Your data is perfectly safe, and your internet traffic is protected from interception.

iPhone

Choose one of the popular VPN services and register an account. Find the required app in the App Store and download it to your smartphone. Open the app, set the location and tap «Connect».

Android

Go to «Settings». Select the «Network»section and try to activate the «Internet VPN»option. If this option is not available, try to search for «VPN settings». Select the appropriate VPN network, enter your username and password, and activate the «Connect»option. If the VPN application is already installed, activation is performed automatically.

By choosing Yesim VPN provider, you protect your data without losing connection speed.

2. Enable two-factor verification

Additional login confirmation with a six-digit code significantly enhances security and privacy. This method reduces third-party attempts to access your smartphone to almost zero.

iPhone

On the Apple ID website, find the «Two-factor authentication»section and move the slider to On. Then go to the Security tab, go to Verified phone numbers, select Edit and activate the option Add text capable phone number.

Android

Go to your Google Account and select «Security»in the navigation bar. Then press «Two-step authentication»? «Start»and strictly follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

3. Cancel data synchronization in automatic mode

Canceling data synchronization is another way to protect your phone from being hacked. It is relatively easy for even the most untrained hacker to hack the cloud storage from another device. So it's best to deactivate the option beforehand.

iPhone

Go to Settings – go to the Apple ID, iCloud, media subsection. Or simply tap your first and last name at the top of the screen. Then find the iCloud «Photos» section and move the slider to Off.

Android

Go to Google Settings, find «My Location»and move the slider to Off for «Location History» and «Send Geodata». Then go to Search & Prompts and disable the Google Now option.

For all operating systems, we recommend that you disable the automatic sending of photos to Google's servers. To do so, go to Google Photos, go to «Settings», go to «Auto Upload»and deactivate this option.

4. Cancel the automatic Wi-Fi connection

It is better to disable the option to automatically connect to Wi-Fi for public networks. Public networks are too unprotected, and it is relatively easy to hack a smartphone through them. Usually, after a couple of simple manipulations, fraudsters have access to all the device data.

iPhone

In Settings, find the «Wi-Fi network list»and disable all public networks, for example if you used them in a café or library. Activate the «Forget this network»option and move the slider to the Off position opposite «Auto access»and «Auto connect». Then you need to go back to the list of Wi-Fi networks again and activate the «Ask»option under «Auto access to point»and «Ask for connection».

Android

Go to «Settings»and find the list of Wi-Fi networks. Remove networks that you don't want to access your contacts, SMS or photos from the list. Then go to «Advanced settings»and remove the checkmark for «Always search for networks».

Read also: How tourists are cheated: 8 fraud schemes

5. Deny access to SMS, contacts and photos

Many apps ask for access to an internet connection, social media or location. This is often exploited by scammers. Here are the tips on how to secure your phone from hackers with different operating systems in this case.

iPhone

Go to settings. Find the Privacy in the menu. Under «Tracking» and «Geolocation», move the slider to the «Off position» Do the same in all other menu sections where this function is available.

Android

Go to Google Settings, search for «Connected apps» and delete any software you don't want to give access to your contacts, SMS and photos.

To save money on traffic when you travel abroad and always be connected anywhere in the world, use eSIM technology, a digital SIM card that is already integrated into your smartphone. If your device supports eSIM, you have the opportunity to benefit from Yesim mobile plans. Check if your smartphone model is on this list.

Read also: What eSIM is: What it's for and how to use it

6. Make a complex password

A code of four or even six digits is no longer considered secure. It is preferable that your password contains not only numbers, but also letters in different registers. This will make life much more difficult for all fraudsters.

iPhone

Go to «Settings» and find the «Touch ID and passcode». Select «Request password»: immediately», click on «Change password» and again on «Random code». You then enter a complex password that contains o letters in different registers and numbers.

The protection is further enhanced by activating the option to reset all data after 10 failed attempts.

Android

Go to «Settings» and find the «Settings». Tap on «Screen lock», select «Password» as the screen locking method. Then create a complex combination of numbers and letters in different registers. Then go to «Settings» again, find the «Security»and uncheck the «Show passwords»option.

7. Disable notifications while the screen is locked

Disabling notifications is a good option for those looking for a reliable way to secure your phone from hackers. This prevents intruders from seeing important information that partially pops up in incoming emails and messages. This is especially important when SMS with codes and other similar information arrive.

iPhone

Go to «Settings»and find the «Touch ID and password». Go to «Access with screen lock»and select «Settings»again. Once there, go to «Notifications», select «Display thumbnails»and activate the «No lock»option.

Android

Go to «Settings», go to «Apps», select the service you don't want to receive messages from while the screen is locked and uncheck «Show notifications».

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8. Deactivate autofill in browsers and disable cookies on

iPhone

Not only website addresses, but also passwords, logins and even settings are stored in your browsing history.

Let's see how to disable these features using the Safari browser as an example. In the Settings menu, find the Privacy and Security. Select «No cross-tracking»and activate the «Block all cookies»option. Also make sure that «Auto-complete»is deactivated for credit cards, contacts and data storage.

In other browsers, everything is disabled in almost the same way.

9. Deactivate auto-complete passwords on iPhone

This is to ensure that no one else can access the services you use most often. The algorithm for deactivation is very simple. Go to Settings, find the Passwords, then select the Autocomplete Passwords icon and move the slider to the Off position. All in all, deactivating autofill password is an easy way for anyone looking to secure a phone from hackers without a complicated algorithm.

10. Encrypt data on Android

This ensures a high level of data security, even if a phone does fall into the hands of fraudsters. Use a password instead of a PIN, and don't be lazy to enter it every time you switch on the phone.

The algorithm for activating data encryption is as follows:go to «Settings»and find the «Security», select «Encrypt phone»and put a checkmark «Encrypt SD card».

11. Download Android apps from the Google Play Store only

How to secure your phone from hackers if you have Android? Android is not a closed operating system like iOS, but an open one. So it's easy for any suspicious program to get a virus onto your smartphone. There's also the risk that sensitive data and content can be stolen from your gadget.

The official Google Play Store is protected by the robust Google Play Protection tool. It checks around 2 billion gadgets and scans around 50 billion apps every day. All this to protect users from scammers and viruses.

Activating the same protection on your smartphone is easy. Go to «Settings»and go to «Security». Remove the checkmark for the «Unknown sources»box and put the checkmark for the «Check apps»box.

To be on the safe side, we recommend that you go back to Settings and check that you have successfully activated the Google Play Protection feature.

12. Activate two-factor identification with laptop or PC

An Android phone is also easy to use for two-factor authentication via a laptop or a computer. This way the gadget and computer will communicate via Bluetooth and the risk of visiting phishing sites is significantly reduced.

You'll need a computer with Windows 10 For settings, but Chrome OS and macOS will also work. Next, open your phone and go to your Google account. Find «Settings» and go to «Accounts». Then select «Add account»and select Google.

Then open the Google Chrome browser on your computer or laptop. Go to the «Security»page in Chrome and select «Two-step authentication».

Then select Add a dongle»and add your phone. You can now access Google email, cloud storage, and other Google services using your smartphone as an additional verification tool.

This feature is also useful when using sites where you frequently make financial transactions, for example when you visit cryptocurrency exchanges.

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