Safer smartphones – keeping your device secure

Woman looking at smartphone screenDownload a PDF of this guide

Smartphones are revolutionising how millions of us go online each day.

We use them to make calls, send texts, check emails and run an ever-growing number of applications.

But these devices may also carry some risks.

Should your smartphone fall into the wrong hands, it is a potential treasure trove of information.

If you download a rogue application, it's even possible for hackers to hijack your phone without it leaving your side.

More than half of UK adults now own a smartphone. If you're one of them, here are some tips to help keep you and your device safe and secure.

This guide has been produced by the Information Commissioner's Office, Ofcom, the Office of Fair Trading and PhonepayPlus working together.

1. Guard your phone, and set PINs and passwords


If your phone goes missing and you are with Three, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, EE or O2 for mobile services, you should only be responsible for paying up to a maximum of £100 for any unauthorised usage outside of your allowance- if you report your phone as missing within 24 hours.

If you are with Vodafone and you miss the 24 hours but report your phone as missing within five days, you should only be responsible for paying up to £500 for unauthorised usage outside of your allowance. See the Government's announcement here

To help prevent theft happening, protect your phone against unauthorised use by setting up a PIN, swipe pattern or password for your home screen. You can usually do this through the Settings feature on your phone. For further details and video guides for some popular handsets, see Ofcom's Lost or Stolen Phone Guide.

2. Take precautions in case your phone is lost or stolen




The National Mobile Phone Crime Unit's “Immobilise” database is a free registration service that assists the police in reuniting owners with their stolen smartphones.For further details and contacts for different operators, see Ofcom's Lost or Stolen Phone Guide.

3. Don't override your smartphone's security settings

It is not advisable to attempt to ‘crack', ‘jailbreak' or ‘root' your smartphone or tablet. This is a process people use to remove restrictions placed on their device's operating system by the phone manufacturer. Doing so carries considerable risks: it compromises the security of your device, and may leave you more vulnerable to malicious software. It is also likely to invalidate your manufacturer's warranty.

4. Back up and secure your data

Many smartphones come with a software package to back up your data to a personal computer, so that you don't lose it if your phone goes astray. Check for information on how to do this in the phone's manual. There are also some third-party applications (‘apps') that can do this for you, creating a copy of information such as contacts, photographs and other data.

5. Install apps from trusted sources

Smartphone appsApps are the easiest way for someone to hack into your phone. Sometimes hackers will take a popular paid-for app, add their own illegitimate elements and then offer it for free on ‘bulletin boards', ‘peer-to-peer' networks or through fake online stores. Once the rogue app has been downloaded to your phone, the hacker can potentially take control of the handset, incur charges via premium SMS without your permission, make calls, send and intercept SMS and voicemail messages, browse and download online content. You may not be aware anything is wrong until it's too late.

So avoid apps from unauthorised sources, such as ‘bulletin boards' or ‘peer-to-peer' networks. Instead, download your apps from official stores, such as the Apple App Store, BlackBerry World or Google Play – and exercise care: for example, research the app and check reviews.

6. Use antivirus software




Consider installing a reputable security app that enables you to track your phone's location if it goes missing, or to wipe data from the phone remotely if you're not able to recover the handset. Some manufacturers provide such an app themselves: for example, Apple's Find My iPhone, BlackBerry Protect, the Android Device Manager or Windows Find My Phone. Third-party apps are also available to perform a similar function.

8. Clear your phone before you dispense with it

If you decide to donate, resell or recycle your smartphone, remember to erase any data on it first. Remove and erase any media cards and perform a full or ‘factory' reset by going into the Settings menu.

9. Accept updates and patches


Information correct as of August 2015

Logos of the organisations which put the guide together