Data Security: The Secret Service recommends restarting your cell phone

Digital

The current NSA paper contains important tips that increase the security of cell phones and tablets.
© Getty Images/ridvan_celik

Is your phone basically always on? Sometimes you have to close it completely, for security reasons.

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Turn it off, wait, turn it back on again: This usually takes just a minute with a smartphone – and it can save you from becoming a victim of computer crime. Reason: If you restart your device frequently, you can stop unwanted exploitation of programming vulnerabilities by criminals.

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This advice comes from a best practices paper prepared by the US National Security Agency (NSA), which is also well-versed when it comes to online espionage, and which Forbes.com references.

The advice is to turn the device off and on again once a week. In many cases, this can help combat malware installation via phishing and against so-called zero-click exploits. This is how it's done:

• Android smartphones have a restart button. It usually appears after pressing the power button and volume up button at the same time.
• iPhones need to be turned off once, wait briefly and then turned back on. The slider button for this appears after pressing the lock button and volume up button at the same time.

More tips: Install updates immediately

The NSA paper lists some other everyday tips to make smartphones and tablets safer:

• Install updates as quickly as possible. Advantage: There is always a reboot.
• Disable WiFi and Bluetooth when you don't need them.
• Avoid using public WiFi networks.
• Use a strong passcode. Six-digit PIN codes are therefore sufficient if the device deletes itself after ten unsuccessful entries.
• Don't click on unexpected pop-ups asking you to install software. If this happens, you should close all active programs. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and close all active windows. On iPhone and Android devices that have a home button, this can be done by double-clicking the button.

PRO: No secret conversations near your cell phone

Then there are the advanced clues. However, it is aimed more at people who keep secrets and perhaps less at casual smartphone users:

• Do not conduct secret conversations near a mobile device that is not configured for this purpose.
• Consider using a device case that protects the microphone. This prevents so-called hot microphone attacks, in which the microphone is activated unnoticed.
• Cover the camera when not in use.

(dpa/f)

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