Howdy steemit members. I wish you all the best this new week can offer.

It's @barnabie here once again to share with you some tips you need not forget while using smartphones. Continue reading as I walk you through some of this simple, yet very vital things .

^{Photo Source: Pixabay}

Preamble:

Today, out of the vast majority of people using phones across the world, about half percent is made up of Smartphones.
That's to say, about 3rd of the entire world is sending and receiving pictures/videos, FaceTiming, chatting and other things you think Smartphones does rather than using their phones for only making of calls.
No matter the time you've been with a Smartphone just know that you're accumulating some personal data and that's why I decided to publish this post, literally on the need to keep this day to day gathering of data safe and secure.

Below are my recommended handy tips for you to protect your smartphone, by so doing, you're already on the way to best practices which will protect your privacy both in a safe and as well sane ways.

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Lock your device with a passcode

^{Photo Source: Pixabay}

This handy tips worth mentioning first when it comes to device security, without this first layer of security, whoever got hold of your can have access to your sensitive applications and the data within.
I advise you set a very strong passcode (not pin) that you alone can have access to.

• Note: Passcode is the combination of both letters, numbers and as well characters to form a password while pincode is the use of letters, know the difference.

For smartphones devices that supports face unlock, fingerprint unlock, pattern unlock and other ways of unlock, you can as well use it if you want to .

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Frequently update your software

There's a great need why your phone is requesting for update. Don't ignore this notification. It's advisable to download and install as soon as your phone request for update. New updates strengthens security as well as privacy, it also enhances the smooth use of your Smartphone i.e aid improvement.

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Use different passwords for EVERY account online

Yes! Don't be lazy using a single password for all your online accounts, I know many of you reading me right now are victims of this thus, it's really advisable. Your account can be easily compromised easily and at any time.
If you're an always-forgettingbtype, you can consider using password manager app.

What password managers does is that, it helps create unique password for you which can't be compromised easily. It will remember all your passwords for you.

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Avoid suspicious links

^{Photo Source: Pixabay}

You might have been receiving random links, the truth is that, some of these links looks really suspicious, kndly check well. Some smartphones comes with inbuilt security which distinguishes fishy and spam texts or link in this case, it's easy to identify which one is fishy.

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Consider using a VPN on open Wi-Fi networks

Who doesn't like clicking "Connect" when free WiFi pops up? Lol, if you don't, I do.
Nevertheless,some of these WiFis are unprotected and are capable of stealing your data. It's now recommendable to use Visual Private Network (VPN).

• How VPN words:
  The work of private visual network (VPN) is to change your IP address, gives you total anonymity while you surf the web therefore protecting your data from being breach.

So with VPN, you can be invisible from those eyes of lurking criminals.

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Download apps from reputable stores

Either Google Play store (for Android) or Apps store (for iOS) should you install your applications.
Downloading apps from third parties will likely pull in a chance of you downloading a malwares.

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Backup your data to the cloud/Enable smooth wiping of your phone

When you backup your phone and in any case your phone got stolen or missed, you can recover your backed up apps accounts and data.

Also, you can consider enabling smooth wiping of phone in this case, when you miss your device you can wipe out all your your data remotely and the cool thing is, you won't loss the data because you've backed it up.

Conclusion

Aforementioned are my suggested tips for you to protect and enjoy your Smartphone device. If in anyway you find them or any one as the case may be of help, go ahead and do it. Font forget also, to share your experiences with me down in the comment section as well, your observations and opinions.

See you when due

Cc: @steem-alive @steemalive @computing

Cheers