Mobile phone use is now higher than ever before. In 2021, the number of unique mobile internet users stood at 4.32 billion, indicating that over 90 percent of the global internet population uses a mobile device to go online. With so many people using their mobile phones to access the internet, that means that, unfortunately, cybercriminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated at harnessing data and information directly from mobile phones. But what does that mean for you? And how can you protect your phone? Here's everything you need to know.

Don't Leave Your Phone Unattended 

The first and simplest way you can protect your phone is to know where it is at all times. Leaving your phone unlocked or unattended is an invitation for opportunistic criminals to steal your phone and gain access to the personal data that you hold. 

Don't Store Data Longer Than You Need To 

Sometimes sharing data with third parties (such as businesses or retailers) is unavoidable, but you should ensure that those companies don't store your data for any longer than they need to. At the most basic level, you can achieve this by contacting each company that you know holds your data and asking them to remove you from their database.

However, it is crucial to bear in mind that your personal information can be shared with others without your consent. Data brokers are companies who specialize in collecting, analyzing, and trading sensitive data for a profit. You can individually contact well-known data brokers such as Verisk, Acxiom LLC, Orata Data Cloud, or Epsilon Data and fill out their opt-out form. Yet, this is a process that can take several weeks and even months of your time. 

If you don't have the time or the inclination to do this yourself, you can use a company like Incogni to remove your data from the internet. Such companies will contact data brokers and ask them to remove customers' data on their behalf. This will improve your protection against serious cyber threats such as scammers, hackers, and shadow profiles. 

Be Wary of Suspicious Emails and Text Messages 

A simple mantra to remember is that 'if an offer sounds too good to be true then it probably is'. If you receive an email or a text message from someone that you don't know that seems suspicious, then you should be wary of clicking any links that they contain. Never share data with someone you don't know or conduct transactions online with individuals you've never met. Obvious signs that an email or text message are fraudulent include messages that contain bad grammar, include requests for you to act urgently, as well as the obvious red flag of requests for payment.

Dispose of Old Phones Securely

Finally, if you regularly upgrade your mobile phone and are keen to own the latest model, then you should ensure that you dispose of your old phone securely. Make sure that no personal information is left on your old phone, taking care to wipe all of the data that it contains. You could even hire a specialist to do this on your behalf if you're concerned that you might miss something, or your phone contains particularly sensitive information.