Privacy Control Basics on Smart Devices
In today's world, protecting access to your information is more important than ever - especially on your smart devices. That's why we've provided the information below to walk you through some of the basic steps you can take to ensure your privacy stays intact on your smart devices. You may know some of these already or you may learn something new! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but by following these basic tips you can rest a lot easier that your information and privacy are safe on your smart devices. These suggestions will be true for both Android and iOS unless specifically stated otherwise.
Using a passcode on your device
Today, many devices utilize some sort of facial or fingerprint ID when unlocking the device's screen. In fact, your device is more secure when those are actually disabled. However, it is still very important to have a passcode also enabled on your devices. We recommend finding a middle ground between unique but also something you'll remember. We do not recommend simple passcodes such as 1234 or 0000. Having a strong passcode on your device ensures that if your device is lost or stolen your data is hard to access and remains private.
IOS privacy settings
Follow the steps in the images below to secure your privacy:
Android privacy settings
Auto-lock and screen timeout
Auto-Lock (iOS) and Screen Timeout (Android) are settings that set the amount of time your screen stays unlocked without being used before it locks itself. Devices have several options from as little as 15 seconds to 5 minutes. Turning this setting on will not only have a positive impact on your battery life, it will also ensure that if your phone is lost or stolen, your device is already locked so that your data stays safe.
IOS auto-lock
Follow the steps in the images below to secure your privacy:
Android auto-lock
Follow the steps in the images below to secure your privacy:
App permissions
Both Android and iOS have built in ways to manage what information applications on your device have access to. On Android you can see this by going into Settings > Apps > Permissions. On iOS go to Settings > Privacy & Security and you'll see a list of what features applications can have access to. Tap on each feature to review what apps have permission to access that. A good habit is to check these permissions periodically to make sure you're comfortable with what is enabled on your device. For instance, there probably isn't a good reason for a solitaire app to have access to your location or your phone contacts.
- Change app permissions on your Android phone - Android Help (google.com)
- Control access to information in apps on iPhone - Apple Support
Find my device Android and iPhone.
While this is your last line of defense, it's an extremely important one. If you you're your device or suspect it's been taken, these settings enable your device to be located by utilizing the networks of nearby devices around it to its location. This feature also allows you to put an additional lock on the phone remotely as well as erase all the data off it in case of loss or suspected theft. With the help of trusted friends and family, you can also allow them to see your location in case of emergency situations that can also help emergency services providers when needed.
Following these quick and easy tips should help you sleep better at night knowing that your private data is safe-and-sound on your smart devices.