5 Tips for Using Your Smartphone as the Main Device
Laptops and tablets are no longer our companions during travels and holidays, as we can easily replace them with one smartphone that fulfills all their roles. This little device can be used to contact others, have access to the Internet, use a GPS signal, work and kill time with a bit of fun. However, it’s good to remember that it’s an electronic device like any other, and it might get broken, stolen, or infected by viruses and malware. Here are a few tips for using a smartphone as the main device on an everyday basis and during your travels.
1. Make use of the apps
If you search through the app stores, you will see that there are numerous apps devoted to all kinds of activities and created with the user’s comfort in mind. If you want your smartphone to become the main device and forget about carrying laptops or tablets with you, it’s good to download some of them on your device. You will certainly need some apps to gain access to your finances and work-related accounts, but also the ones related to entertainment, like streaming services with TV and music, or apps that will help you stay motivated, focuses or healthy. Use the possibilities of the modern world to make your smartphone an all-in-one device. As a result, you will do all the tasks, conduct business, do chores and have fun with the use of only one device. You can shop and pay with your smartphone, make appointments and keep track of them, connect with family and friends, and plan, organize and create presentations from every place in the world on one screen. You only need the right apps to do so.
2. Secure your smartphone with a password
If you are using your smartphone as a universal device for work, entertainment, making payments and keeping up with important events, this little phone becomes extremely valuable. Even if you are careful and cautious, your device might get stolen or simply lost. That’s why the first thing you should do is create a hard-to-break password. It won’t be a foolproof method to secure all the pieces of information and vital data on your phone, but it will slow down any person who might try to break into your device, and you have a chance to locate the smartphone. However, such a password needs to be strong, difficult to guess and break, which is clearly explained in the Terranova Security article. All easy combinations and patterns will not secure the device the way they should, so you really need to spend some time coming up with the right combination. You might also want to avoid using some personal data as your password, like the date of your birth or any important date, some names or anything that might be easily guessed by a person who has at least basic knowledge of you. You might not even expect how many pieces of information might be gathered about a single person through their device and social media accounts.
3. Control the apps
It’s natural that your smartphone will be filled with various apps but what is important is that you keep them under control. This means downloading them only from reliable sources, the ones that you can trust, and checking a given app before hitting the installation button. Make sure that you know what data all of these apps are permitted to access and use. Some will need access to your localization, contacts or gallery. Grant access only to those apps that you know are trustworthy and come from a reliable source. Avoid programs that have negative opinions or are downloaded from a suspicious website. It’s advised to use Google Play Store if you have the Android operating system or iOS store in case of the Apple system.
4. Use available protection systems
As your smartphone is your main device when it comes to everyday use, you need to make sure that you protect it in the right way. Start with choosing the best antivirus software, as it’s the basic protection of any device. It will detect any malware or viruses that you might accidentally download. Antivirus software, however, might not be enough, especially when you use your smartphone all around the world. One of the best options currently available is a VPN service. They ensure anonymity and safety, they protect your data from hackers and hide your current localization. It might prove invaluable when you are traveling, and you wish to access your bank accounts or make use of various forms of entertainment that require real money, like Vegas Slots Online in Canada or any other place in the world. Online casinos are a highly popular and fun form of entertainment, perfect as a way to earn money or kill time on the road, but you need to protect yourself with a VPN and use only secure sites with reliable options, such as Vegas Slots Online.
5. Avoid public Wi-Fi
When it comes to protecting your smartphone, even the simplest mistake might cause you the loss of data and valuable information. You would think that connecting with public Wi-Fi is not that big of a threat, but in reality, it might be one of the most dangerous things you can do online. That’s why it’s advised to avoid the public net, which explains the article on the Kaspersky blog, and rather use your own service or connect with the service provided by your hotel when traveling. The unprotected traffic in the case of public Wi-Fi signals is the perfect place for hackers to steal your data when you least expect it. If you need to make use of the Net in some public place, try to minimize your activity online and do not log in to any account that involves valuable data, like bank accounts or any account in general. Use a web browser, do not download anything and do not pay with your phone when connected to the public network as it’s the bare minimum you can do to protect yourself.
