Needless to say, keep the Bluetooth disabled when it’s not in active use for data packet transfer. “Bluetooth can be exploited by hackers to gain access to your phone,” Avast’s Corrons says. The concerns over wireless connectivity are not limited to Wi-Fi only. But if you really have to go online, always use a VPN service, such as the one provided by Nord. This can prove to be a costly mistake, especially if you are performing sensitive tasks like online banking. Bad actors often piggyback on these public networks, which often lack adequate security measures, to break into computers. “Avoid using unknown Wi-Fi,” Warmenhoven also warns. While iPhones don’t allow sideloading and limit app installation to the App Store, Android has the doors left open wide open. Sideloaded apps are often brimming with malware and raise hell for your smartphone systems. You should also always stick to downloading apps from official outlets like the Google Play Store and App Store. Similarly, you should avoid giving your own number out randomly, especially when it comes to signing up for online services. “Always verify the source before providing personal or sensitive information.”Īdrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert on the Nord Security team, also stresses that you should be careful about communicating with unknown numbers. What about phishing-related scams that end up costing users millions of dollars each year? “Be cautious when clicking links in text messages, emails, or social media messages, especially from unknown senders,” Luis Corrons, an Avast security evangelist, told Digital Trends. Other ways to stay safe on your iPhone Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends But despite international outcry and activism, new exploits keep popping up, which only boosts the urgency of having an extreme security measure like Lockdown Mode. Apple eventually fixed the flaws after being notified by hackers and also sued the spyware maker NSO Group. Take, for example, the notorious Pegasus spyware, which targeted zero-day exploits in iOS. It is, therefore, extremely important that you download software updates as soon as they are released because they not only bring new features, but also patch critical security issues. Earlier in March 2023, Apple patched two critical vulnerabilities targeting iOS that may have been exploited by bad actors. So, what steps should an average user take to avoid becoming the next victim? We reached out to experts at Avast and Nord for some general tips that smartphone users should integrate inyo their daily habits.Īt the top of the critical importance pyramid is software updates. But not doing so also means leaving oneself vulnerable to a whole bunch of exploits ready to be used by bad actors. As a result, they don’t need to dramatically kill some important phone features by enabling Lockdown Mode. Not everyone is a high-profile target of spyware like Pegasus. Do you really need to use Lockdown Mode? Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends However, it’s still a strong line of defense for people who are at risk of such protracted attacks. Experts told Motherboard that a website can identify when you have enabled it, which could (in turn) make you a more visible target. Tap on Lockdown Mode and enable the corresponding toggleīut Lockdown Mode is not a cure-all solution to keep you safe online.In order to enable Lockdown Mode, follow this path: Locking the phone will block all wired data transfer to a connected device, and even configuration profile sharing, like that for VPN, will also be blocked. Likewise, some web tech is blocked, which might degrade the web surfing experience, but will strengthen security.įaceTime calls from unknown numbers will also be canceled. As a result, users are saved from interacting with malicious packages. These zero-click exploits targeted by Pegasus are deemed extremely dangerous, and even experts at Google’s Project Zero described them as “a weapon against which there is no defense.” So, how does Lockdown Mode work against it? Well, to put it simply, it reduces the attack surface.įor example, when Lockdown Mode is enabled, certain attachment types in messaging are blocked, and link previews are also disabled. What Lockdown Mode does and how to use it
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