I remember the evenings when I used to hurry home from work to reach a PSV designated to my route. It used to take an eternity to get full, but in the meantime, they would offer FREE WIFI; some even came with a password ready (emphasis on the word FREE in all caps). 

This way, you can browse as you wait for the bus to get full so you can finally get home. ‘What a deal!’ was the general sentiment whenever passengers saw this. Talk about customer care in this digital age!  

Here’s the Problem  

As I entered the PSV with my Wi-Fi still switched on every evening, I would be ready to put my headphones on and listen to my playlist as we waited for the bus to fill up. I followed my ritual and noticed something disturbing: A song I’ve never heard from an artist I’ve never known before had been added to my playlist!  

I proceeded to fumble over my phone as quickly as possible to pause and delete the song as the artist was mid-sentence promoting his new mixtape.  

It had me thinking: How smooth of a breach, especially for those who had their smartphones out utilizing this FREE resource. What if they could access my confidential data just as quickly as they added something unfamiliar to my playlist? Were my banking details, contacts, passwords, emails, and GPS location safe now? 

Now Let’s Talk Mobile Security  

Mobile Security makes sure your hardware, software, operating system, and applications and safely tucked behind a wall of cyber protection. This way, you don’t have to have random mixtapes dropped into your playlist like was my case, or worse still, have your data breached when it comes to wireless connections.  

According to Tripwire, mobile devices are one of the leading causes of data breaches. 

How do you protect your mobile phone?  

1. ALWAYS use secure Wi-Fi (Emphasis on ALWAYS in all caps). This better option is protected, encrypted, and comes with more authentication to protect you as your browse.  
2. Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use. Make sure you’re don’t accidentally stumble into networks that can compromise your mobile security, turn off all automatic connections.  
3. Always makes sure your system software is up to date. Every software update potentially addresses previous vulnerabilities identified and provides additional layers of protection against cyber-based threats, so constantly update your phone’s system as recommended.  
4.  If you have your personal or work mailbox on your phone, ensure you have a robust authenticator (Microsoft, Google, or reputable third-party) and strong passwords for added measure.  
5. Use a mobile phone-based antimalware solution to protect your files and browsing experience, reducing the chance of a malware-based attack.  
6. A VPN can also support masking your presence on unfamiliar networks. Ensure you research well, as not all solutions are equal.  
7. Finally, make sure your data is encrypted and backed up, presenting a safety net, just in case.  

All things considered, as an end-user, you are in no way less than competent! Unfortunately, even the best of us have been victims of these sly threats. Threats are adapting, which means we will have to be our own IT expert to ensure we’re cyber-safe. Here is a link on how everyone can get involved when it comes to cybersecurity. 

Unless we want the risk of having a data breach on our phone, with a backing soundtrack of an unknown song by an unfamiliar artist, we must all be aware of how to avoid these wireless hacks.   

So, tell a friend to say to a friend: Steer clear of any FREE Wi-Fi at any point. It’s not to be trusted, and in this case, it is most definitely justified when it comes to trust issues. 

For more information on how you can keep your data safe when it comes to your mobile devices, make sure to contact us today. We’d be more than happy to help!