Last year, more than 200,000 cases were recorded in the capital of São Paulo alone female database making it crucial to adopt preventive measures to protect your information in the event of loss or theft of your cell phone.
Threats to personal and banking data
With a cell phone in hand, criminals have access to a vast range of personal information, including emails, social networks and, most worryingly, banking applications.
This allows them to reset passwords and perform fraudulent transactions, thus resulting in huge financial losses for victims.
Therefore, it is vital to understand how to protect your data effectively.
Essential preventive measures
Complex Lock and Passwords : The first step to ensuring the security of your smartphone is to set a strong screen lock password. Avoid simple patterns and opt for complex codes or, if possible, use biometric methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition.
Regular updates : Always keep your operating system and applications up to date to fix potential vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Also, regularly check for pending updates and install them immediately.
Avoid saving passwords : Never use the “remember password” function in browsers and applications. Although convenient, this practice can make it easier for criminals to access your accounts if your device is stolen.
Two-step authentication : Enable two-step authentication on all apps and services, especially banking apps. This feature adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification before granting access to the account.
Disable sensitive notifications : In your phone's settings, disable the display of notifications with sensitive information, such as SMS messages or emails, on the lock screen. This will prevent anyone from accessing important information without unlocking the device.
What to do in case of theft or robbery
If your cell phone is stolen or robbed, acting quickly can minimize the damage. Here are the steps you should take:
Remotely erase data : Use Apple’s (for iPhones) or Google’s (for Android) find and erase tools to remotely wipe all information stored on your device. This will prevent criminals from accessing your personal data.