Quick privacy upgrade: Turn your phone to safe mode
All I want for Christmas is to help keep your data safe. The bad news is there are a ton of cybercriminals out there doing their best to stop me.
Apple recently shared the results of a study from MIT on the growing threat of cyberattacks around the globe. A mindblowing 2.6 billion personal records were breached in 2021 and 2022. I’d say it’s time to act if you haven’t already.
Your phone is one gateway criminals can use to strike. Be smart and get this done now while you’re thinking about it. I’ll show you how to turn on built-in protections for your Apple or Android phone.
Apple makes it easy
End-to-end encryption has long been the default for Apple iMessage, iCloud Keychain and Health data. We like this.
But you’re missing out if you aren’t using Apple’s Advanced Data Protection. It encrypts your messages in iCloud, iPhone iCloud backup, iCloud Drive, Notes, photos, reminders, Safari bookmarks, Siri shortcuts, voice memos and Wallet Passes.
Here are the steps to enable Apple’s ADP:
- First, make sure you’re running iOS 16.2 or later. Update your Mac, iPad, HomePods, etc. before proceeding.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap your name at the top.
- Choose iCloud, scroll to the bottom, and tap Advanced Data Protection.
- Tap Turn On Advanced Data Protection.
- NOTE: If you don’t have a recovery contact or key set up, you’ll be prompted to do that first.
- Once a recovery contact/key is set up, return to Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection and tap Turn On Advanced Data Protection.
- Follow the prompts.
- NOTE: You may be asked to update other devices signed into your iCloud account before enabling end-to-end encryption (E2E).
- You can also remove devices on old software to continue the process.
- For security reasons, Apple might make you wait to enable the feature if you’ve recently gotten a new device. If so, that timeframe will show on your screen during setup.
Use an Android? Try this
Apple does the best job at safeguarding data, but Android’s protections are pretty solid.
Through Google Play Protect, all apps are analyzed before they’re available for download. It also performs daily scans to help disable malware and harmful apps on your phone. New apps that pose a security risk will not be allowed to be installed.
Android backups are uploaded to Google servers and encrypted with your Google Account password. Sometimes, your phone’s screen lock PIN, pattern or password is also used to encrypt your data.
Turn on this smart security setting to protect your phone backups from hackers
You should always have a backup of precious photos and essential personal files. It would be best to back up your mobile phone before upgrading its operating system, so you don’t lose anything important. Tap or click for three things to look for in a cloud backup.
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