How to keep work calls safe from hackers and scammers
With more and more employees working remotely or traveling for work, using mobile phones for business purposes is more common than ever. In fact, many businesses can help employees with mobile phones, stay connected and become more productive. But how secure is it to access your company’s network or project via mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets? Without taking the necessary steps, it could actually be catastrophic to the company’s data security. This article covers six basic mobile security tips that ensure that all the valuable information your smartphone stores and accesses is safe from hackers and scammers.
Why is mobile security important to employees?
There cannot be denied that using a mobile phone for work is extremely convenient. You can simplify your daily life by checking your emails while commuting and transferring documents without turning on your laptop. However, the risk of data theft and security breaches is always present and can have serious consequences for the company’s reputation, financial condition, and client relationships. Often, it’s not just about clicking on a phishing email link to allow cybercriminals to access sensitive information about the company or its clients. Therefore, businesses that value their brand and their clients’ trust need to educate their employees on some necessary mobile security guidelines to keep them safe.
Six Tips for Ensuring Mobile Security for Your Employees
1. Use a strong password
The first and most important step in mobile security is to ensure that you are the only person with physical access to your phone. Unlock using a strong pin or password (rather than 0000 or 1234), or even better, use a biometric passkey on your phone, such as face or fingerprint scans. In an unlikely event, if your phone is left unlocked, make sure you need a password for important tasks and banking apps to open. If you are using a username and password, do not select the “Remember” option. This makes your account easier for others to access. Finally, don’t forget to change your password every few months to keep it safe.
2. Use a VPN
VPN stands for Virtual Private Networks and is commonly used on computers and laptops. You definitely should consider downloading it, especially if you are using a public Wi-Fi network and accessing the internet via your smartphone. This technology allows you to securely access the internet by creating barriers between your device and your Wi-Fi network, encrypting information and protecting it from cyberattacks. This allows the VPN to shield you from attempts to theft of your data or password when you visit a non-HTTPS website or an uncertain site. VPN software is often inexpensive, but the protection it offers is invaluable.
3. Beware of unknown Wi-Fi networks
When working outside the home, everyone loves free Wi-Fi, but what if the real price you’re paying is your mobile security? Public networks of cafes and hotels often lack encryption, making them easy to access by anyone with basic hacking skills. Before you know it, whatever you are working on, the credentials you use to access important websites and applications can be put into the hands of people with malicious intent. Given the risks, it’s definitely safer to use a mobile 4G or 5G network that automatically encrypts information. However, if you run out of data, use a VPN to connect only to a password-protected Wi-Fi network.
4. Update your mobile phone
Mobile phone companies are well aware of the many threats our devices encounter with every challenge they challenge the vast global web. As a result, we regularly release updates that enhance security features to combat new security loopholes that hackers can take advantage of the latest threats and malware. Arming these so-called “security patches” into your phone requires regular updates to the latest versions of the operating system and various applications. These updates can be configured to be automatically configured to ensure that your mobile security standard is always up to date with the latest devices.
5. Prepare for the worst
Despite your best efforts, a physical threat may still catch you off guard. You must prepare for the unfortunate event where your phone is stolen. This includes backing up your data, including photos, documents and other important information. This way, if you lose access to your device, you will be able to restore the files. Additionally, you must be able to track stolen devices or, if that is not possible, remotely lock access or wipe data. In this way, sensitive personal or professional information remains secure even if the device is not available. Make sure you enable these features in advance so that if something happens, you can immediately log in to your account from another device to protect your information.
6. Beware
It’s good to take precautions to ensure mobile security, such as using passwords, installing VPNs, and backing up your data. However, the best case scenario is that you are careful when using your phone to access the internet, so it’s ultimately not necessary. Of course, this doesn’t mean getting delusions with every email or website, and ultimately avoiding using your phone for things that matter. Instead, you should be aware of suspicious behavior, emails from unknown senders, clickbait popups, and downloads from unreliable sources. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of mobile use without falling victim to potential risks.
Use mobile use safely for remote employees
If employees work outside the office more frequently than on-site, it can be difficult to monitor how safe mobile phone usage is. To enhance your business against external threats as much as possible, it is essential that you instill a mobile security mentality in your remote workforce so that someone can keep up with you without someone looking over their shoulder. Organize online security courses, directing resources on what happens when you leave your device unsecured. Additionally, you can use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools. This allows employees to ensure that their smartphones are protected as they comply with the latest security standards.
Conclusion
As remote work becomes more common and employees use their mobile phones to complete work-related tasks, mobile security is becoming more important than ever. If employees don’t know how to keep their mobile devices safe, businesses can suffer from serious consequences. In this article, we’ve covered some must-read tips on protecting your smartphone and tablet against cyberattacks. This should encourage all businesses to hire their employees.
