Apply the five minute rule to avoid cyber attacks on your mobile phone.
With the rise in cyberattacks targeting smartphone users, the recommendation promoted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to turn off your mobile phone for five minutes a day has gained relevance to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of theft. .cybernetic.
Although the idea may seem simple, there are compelling reasons behind this proposal that are worth considering to protect any smartphone, especially when the smartphone has become an important tool in everyday life.
From managing bank accounts to storing personal data, Smartphones contain a significant amount of sensitive information, making them a favorite target for cybercriminals.
Attacks range from attempts to steal banking data to installation of malware that allows remote control of the device, compromising the privacy and security of users.
According to the latest statistics, the number of attacks on devices has increased exponentially in recent years, largely due to a lack of security measures.
In this context Turning off your phone for five minutes a day can be surprisingly effective. The logic behind this recommendation is to deny hackers access to your device.
When the phone is turned on for a long period of time without rebooting, it is more vulnerable to malware being installed without the user’s knowledge. Turning it off interrupts the connection that cybercriminals might have with the device and prevents malware from running continuously.
While turning off your phone may seem like a simple tip, it’s not a new idea. US National Security Agency (NSA), has in the past recommended regularly rebooting cellular devices as a measure to reduce the risk of attackers.
The organization initially recommended doing a weekly reset. However, the growing sophistication of attacks has prompted cybersecurity experts to suggest they should be carried out more frequently.
Some experts agree that turning off the phone for at least five minutes a day or while the user is sleeping can significantly improve security.
The practice of shutting down or restarting a device not only cuts off access to potential attackers, but also helps shut down applications and processes that may be running in the background without the user’s knowledge.
These applications can be vulnerable points through which cybercriminals gain access to information or introduce malicious software. Keeping your phone on for long periods of time makes it easier for apps that seem harmless to collect personal information without consent.
However, despite the benefits of this practice, many users do not want to turn off their phonesmainly due to the fear of losing contact or being unreachable in case of an emergency.
Modern smartphones are designed to quickly resume connectivity and normal operation after being turned off and on, so this fear is unfounded. Unless there is a technical problem with the device, the connection issue should not occur after rebooting the phone.
In addition to disabling the device, there are other measures that can be added to improve security. Among them, Use the latest antivirus software, avoid downloading apps and files from untrusted sources, and regularly check the permissions granted to apps installed on your phone.
Additionally, closing apps running in the background saves your phone’s battery and system resources, and reduces opportunities for hackers.