The security of our smartphones: tips from the National Security Agency
10 May 2024Our smartphones contain much of our private data, so it’s crucial to pay attention to their security to protect them from cyber threats of any kind.
One good practice in this regard is to turn off and restart the device—whether Android or iPhone—at least once a week. This recommendation comes from the American National Security Agency (NSA), one of the most powerful intelligence services in the world that “monitors” the signals coming from thousands of phones every day. According to experts, the device should not remain consecutively powered on for more than 168 hours.
Regularly rebooting your phone helps defend against certain types of cyberattacks, specifically the so-called “zero-day exploits,” which are cyberattacks that exploit security flaws that are unknown to the software or device manufacturer but are discovered by hackers. The term “zero-day” refers to the fact that the manufacturer has no time to fix the flaw, meaning criminals can use it to gain access to vulnerable systems.
By turning the smartphone off and on, it is possible to interrupt any potential data outflows. However, rebooting is not the only good practice recommended by the NSA. According to experts, updating the operating system and carefully selecting apps—limiting them to essential ones downloadable from official or otherwise reliable stores—are also extremely useful and effective habits.
Additionally, it is advisable to disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC whenever possible, avoid opening email attachments from untrustworthy senders, choose strong passwords, and use biometric recognition systems, such as facial recognition or fingerprint unlock.
Cyber threats are increasing and becoming more sophisticated. It would be naive to think that the good practices suggested by the NSA are foolproof. However, they can at least mitigate the dangers related to cybersecurity.
Oscar Giacomin / General Manager, Facto Edizioni
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