Cyber Monday tends to be a day of highest online shopping and great deals.
That sounds great, but these sales conceal a lurking danger: exposure of your information to cyber-criminals. "Our devices, particularly our smartphones, carry a lot of personal and financial information,” warns Josh Gordon, a seasoned software engineer at Geonode.
“It's essential to secure them immediately after shopping online, especially during massive sale events like Cyber Monday," Let us understand why locking your phone after a Cyber Monday shopping spree is pivotal in protecting your online privacy:
- Preventing Unauthorized Access
Your phone contains a great deal of private information, such as personal pictures and money details. In case your phone is not locked, anybody can see this information and use it wrongly. The Pew Research Centre found in its study that 79% of people were concerned about how safe their data is on their mobile devices.
- Mitigating Cyber Threats
Cyber Monday brings a lot of online threats. Hackers look to steal information from unwary shoppers. By locking your phone right after having shopped, you reduce the time that these threats can access your device. This is also in line with guidance from the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre, which suggests keeping devices locked when not in use to improve safety.
- Limiting Exposure to Personal Information
With autofill options, personal data like addresses, phone numbers, and card details are stored on your device. An unlocked phone makes this data readily available to anyone handling the device. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that 4.5 million instances of fraud were reported in England and Wales, UK in 2020, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to protect personal data.
Adler suggests: "Locking your phone is the first line of defence. It creates a hurdle for anyone trying to access your information. But equally important is being conscientious about the permissions granted to different apps. Regularly reviewing and restricting unnecessary access can greatly enhance your online privacy."
Here are some actionable steps you can take to secure your device:
- Establish strong passwords for your device and remember to change them on time. You can use a reputable password manager to help you safely.
- If your device is capable, enable fingerprint or facial recognition features. These are more secure than regular passwords.
- Enables the auto-lock feature that locks your gadget after a certain period of inactivity.
In conclusion, cyber security is not a marathon to be tackled annually, but a daily sprint that requires consistent effort. Makeshift security is not effectively secure— it requires regular attention to ensure that your fallout from the virtual sky involves only purchases, not data breaches.
The aftermath of Cyber Monday offers the ideal reminder to lock your devices, revise your passwords, and safeguard your privacy. As Adler aptly notes, "Cyber security is a journey, not a destination.
“There are always steps you can take to increase your online safety. Don't wait for a threat to materialize before you take action."
