Your smartphone is one of the most valuable things you own — not because of its price, but because of what is on it. Emails, bank accounts, contacts, photos. If someone gets into your phone, they can cause enormous damage. Here is how to protect it.

Step 1: Always Use a Screen Lock

If your phone is lost or stolen and has no screen lock, anyone can access everything on it immediately.

Set up one of these (in order of strength):

1. Face ID or fingerprint — most convenient and very secure
2. PIN code — use 6 digits, not 4
3. Password — the most secure, but harder to type quickly

Avoid: Pattern locks (they leave smudge marks on screen), or setting no lock at all.

To set a PIN on iPhone: Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Turn Passcode On To set a PIN on Android: Settings → Security → Screen Lock

Step 2: Keep Your Phone Updated

Software updates are not just about new features — they fix security holes that hackers try to exploit. When your phone tells you there is an update available, install it.

• On iPhone: Settings → General → Software Update
• On Android: Settings → System → Software Update

Turn on automatic updates if you find it hard to remember to do this manually.

Step 3: Only Download Apps from Official Stores

On iPhone, only install apps from the App Store. On Android, only use the Google Play Store.

Never install apps from links sent in emails, text messages, or WhatsApp. These unofficial apps can steal your data or spy on what you type.

Step 4: Be Careful What You Grant App Permission To

When you install a new app, it often asks for permission to access your camera, contacts, location, or microphone. Ask yourself: does this app actually need this?

• A shopping app does not need access to your microphone
• A simple calculator does not need to know your location

To review app permissions on iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security To review on Android: Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Permissions

Remove any permissions that do not make sense for what the app does.

Step 5: Be Careful on Public Wi-Fi

When you connect to free Wi-Fi at a café, hotel, or airport, other people on that network can sometimes see what you are doing. Avoid:

• Logging in to your bank
• Entering passwords or card details
• Accessing sensitive work emails

Use your mobile data (4G/5G) for anything sensitive. Or use a VPN — see our guide on Best VPNs 2026.

Step 6: Enable “Find My Phone”

If your phone is lost or stolen, “Find My” (iPhone) or “Find My Device” (Android) lets you:

• See where it is on a map
• Make it ring loudly (even if on silent) to help you find it
• Lock it remotely
• Erase all data on it remotely if necessary

Enable on iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Find My iPhone → On Enable on Android: Go to myaccount.google.com → Security → Find My Device

Step 7: Back Up Your Phone Regularly

If your phone is lost, stolen, or breaks, a backup means you do not lose your photos, contacts, and messages.

• iPhone: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now
• Android: Settings → Google → Backup → Back up now

Connect to Wi-Fi before backing up to avoid using your mobile data allowance.

Your phone knows more about you than almost anything else. A few minutes spent on these settings now could save you a great deal of trouble later.