The Internet isn’t as safe as it was 15 or 20 years ago. It is indeed more complete, and it has options and solutions for nearly every-day applications and uses, but it has traded security and privacy to achieve that status, That is why you need to implement one of the best VPN for mobile security if you want to protect your device and your digital assets from the myriad of threats out there on the web.
The security measures you may need for your PC or laptop may not be the same than the ones you require to safeguard your smartphone or tablet. Nowadays, our phones are much more than tools to make and receive calls: they are gaming consoles, Wi-Fi hotspots, TV stations, music and media players, alarm clocks, GPS, cameras, and more.
The fact remains that our smartphones are capable of performing our everyday activities, even more so than our laptops and PCs. Mobile devices have the advantage of being more portable and easy to carry around, a perfect setting to perform our duties more efficiently.
Everything comes at a price
However, the more is at our mobile device’s plate, the less secure are they, because our smartphones can get in touch with dozens of security threats that lurk around the web: hackers, cybercriminals, scammers, phishing, SMiShing, all kinds of malware (virus, Trojan horses, worms, spyware, adware, ransomware,) and more, not to mention people looking to perform unauthorized crypto mining.
Also, there is the risk of data or privacy breaches. Everything we do online leaves a trace, from signing in to our email accounts to purchases in an e-commerce store. Our identity, personal information, and even location details can be leaked out there, and the Internet is full of criminals looking to take advantage.
Since mobile devices include a SIM card and a unique OS (Operating System) such as iPhone or Android, for example, they should be treated differently than other stationary gadgets, such as personal computers. Connecting to public 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks require special attention when it comes to security.
How to secure your mobile device
- Set a passphrase as a barrier
If you configure your phone to require a password every time you use it, you may lose a couple of seconds every time, but you will gain the ability to protect your assets, photos, videos, documents, contacts, and overall privacy in case it happens to change hands.
Currently, nearly all devices have the option to set up a passphrase for security reasons. If the thief, or the person trying to snoop on your data, doesn’t know the code, then it will be tough for him or her to access what’s inside your smartphone.
- Be very careful about apps accessing your data
Downloading apps is the action that allows you to get the best out of your smartphone and turn it into a versatile machine capable of doing virtually all the things you can do on a PC or laptop, but with the bonus of portability.
However, consider that anyone can develop an app and publish it in any app store, so that doesn’t speak well about the overall security of those apps.
Some of the apps you download, especially on Android, keep running in the background while still connected to the web and sharing data, gaining the ability to access your pictures, locations, and other bits of information.
- Protect yourself and your device against malware
Privacy isn’t the only concern regarding online security for your mobile device. The Internet is also full of viruses and all types of malware: Ransomware, spyware, adware, and other dangerous threats that can ruin your digital experience.
The consequences of an “infection” can vary from losing your data and having the “kidnapper” ask you to pay for it, to excruciatingly slow performance on your device, not to mention ads and hacking attacks.
Being careful with what you install and acquiring antivirus software that can spot and eliminate possible threats or infected files will be good for your overall online health.
- Deactivate Bluetooth if you are not using it
Leaving your Bluetooth activated will mean that you are at risk of enduring one of the technology’s security flaws, which can result in data theft, bluebugging (when spying and information stealing activities are performed from a remote location via Bluetooth,) or Bluesmack (a DDoS attack performed via Bluetooth.)
- Take advantage of your device’s security features
Modern mobile devices and smartphones have a myriad of security features to protect users against data theft and other vulnerabilities. iOS, for example, has the Find My Phone tracking service, and Android has similar tools as well.
- Encrypt your internet data with a VPN
People often take advantage every time they see the opportunity to connect to a public Wi-Fi network. After all, data plans in most countries are reasonably expensive, so they want to save as much money as they can by using these hotspots. However, they are insecure because they are full of hackers ready to intercept your communication with servers online and use your data and information against you. That’s why encryption your data is crucial.
Even 3G and 4G connection have security vulnerabilities that can expose your digital assets and overall safety, so you would benefit from using the best VPNs in the market for mobile security.
VPNs are Virtual Private Networks, which are apps that can encrypt your content and also your IP address (the one element that shows your online location) with the intention of providing privacy and security on your Internet sessions.
These apps use protocols – OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, and SSTP are examples – to create a virtual tunnel for the data you share to pass safely to remote servers managed by the VPN company, not by the Internet Service Provider, which is the entity that keeps logs of your sessions and sells them around the web.
VPNs, in addition to providing privacy and security, can help you mask your IP address with the intention of unblocking international content, be it pages, services, or streaming platforms, among others.
Best VPN for Mobile Security?
TorGuard is widely recognized as the most efficient brand in the market and the best VPN for mobile security. It’s rated #1 out of 50 VPNs here on the site!
It implements robust data encryption (AES 256-bit) while putting in practice a strict no logging policy. Your data will be safe if you use TorGuard for public Wi-Fi hotspots and 3G and 4G networks. The brand comes with DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and multiprotocol availability.
In conclusion, mobile security should concern you, and you need to use one of the best VPN to lift all your shields and protect yourself against hackers, malware, scams, data stealing, and other unwanted situations.
