Don't turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, this simple trick is the best way to protect your phone from malware, according to the NSA
Some of the mobile features that make users’ lives easier have become the main gateway for malware onto devices. Yesterday, the National Security Agency (NSA) published a report on good practices for avoiding viruses, and it’s not just about turning off WiFi and Bluetooth as previously thought.
The simplest and most logical step to avoid malware on your mobile phone is to use secure passwords and PINs, although cybercriminals' techniques for tricking their victims have evolved in recent years.
A dangerous banking virus that has spread in recent weeks has managed to replicate the lock screen to send data to fraudsters who will be able to access all the information on the mobile phone within seconds.
The NSA report recommends restarting your mobile phone from time to time to avoid selective phishing attacks. Cybercriminals no longer send emails or SMS messages to victims pretending to be organizations or institutions.
Scammers access user information from records on unsecured websites or large databases to provide reliable data to victims in fake documents and malicious files. They can also insert malware from app downloads from third-party sites or attachments that will run in the background.
Regularly rebooting mobile phones prevents criminals from exploiting vulnerabilities in the devices. This is especially useful for cyberattacks that are controlled remotely by criminals, such as the popular zero-click exploits.
These attacks typically start with a missed call and take advantage of vulnerabilities in mobile phone software. They don’t require the victim to fall for any scam, so they are one of the biggest threats.
- How often is it recommended to restart the mobile phone?
The NSA believes that restarting your phone weekly can prevent cybercriminals from accessing it, although it warns that it's not a foolproof trick against all currently distributed viruses.
Experts and manufacturers recommend that you turn off your phone completely or restart it daily. Restarting and turning off your device at least once a day or a week will extend its useful life. Your device may be performing normal and malicious background actions that are not visible to you.
For users, it affects performance. The mobile phone will run faster, apps will be prevented from accumulating memory and the battery will degrade slower due to less demanding usage.
The NSA recommends turning off your phone completely and disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you’re not using these features, though very few people do. This trick prevents viruses from being distributed over the network, stealing your data without your consent or geolocation.