FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist
We live on our phones. They’re our wallets, keys, diaries, workstations, and social lifelines. But with so much personal and business data in our pockets, it only takes one slip for hackers, scammers, or malware to make a mess of your life. So how do you lock down your smartphone in 2025 — when cyber threats keep getting sneakier? Xobee has you covered with these ten clear steps to keep your mobile fortress solid.
Learn More: How Xobee can keep your data protected and secure
1. Update Everything — Right Now
Procrastinating on that software update? Bad idea. Updates don’t just add new emojis — they fix holes hackers crawl through. Make it a habit to run updates for your OS, apps, and security tools as soon as they drop.
2. Use Strong Passcodes & Biometrics
If your phone’s password is “1234” or your dog’s name, change it. Use a long passcode, PIN, or complex pattern. Better yet, layer it with fingerprint or facial recognition. The harder you make it to break in, the faster a thief will give up and move on.
3. Watch Out for Sketchy Apps
Only install apps from trusted stores like Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Third-party app stores and random download links are breeding grounds for malware. Check reviews, developer info, and permissions before tapping install.
4. Encrypt & Back Up
If your phone gets stolen, encryption makes your data unreadable to strangers. Both Android and iOS support full-disk encryption — turn it on. And back up your phone to the cloud or an external drive regularly. Xobee helps businesses with reliable cloud hosting, backup redundancies, and rock-solid data restoration when disaster strikes.
5. Lock Down Public Wi-Fi
Coffee shop Wi-Fi is a hacker’s playground. If you need to connect, use a VPN to scramble your data traffic. Or just stick to your mobile network for anything sensitive — banking, emails, or company files.
6. Multi-Factor Authentication: Non-Negotiable
Passwords aren’t enough. Add multi-factor authentication to your accounts whenever you can. It’s an extra layer that stops criminals even if they have your password. Your bank, email, cloud accounts — all should have MFA turned on.
7. Beware of Phishing & Smishing
Hackers don’t always brute-force their way in — sometimes they just ask nicely. Watch out for texts, emails, or DMs pretending to be from your bank, a coworker, or a delivery service. Never click sketchy links or download attachments you didn’t expect. Xobee’s spam filtering services catch a lot of these before they even reach your inbox.
8. Install Security Software
Basic antivirus still matters — on mobile, too. A good security app blocks malware, flags suspicious sites, and can help find or lock your device if it’s lost. Xobee’s virus protection solutions do the heavy lifting for you so you can stop threats before they spread.
9. Turn Off Bluetooth & Location When Not Needed
Bluetooth and location sharing can be exploited by attackers lurking nearby. If you’re not actively using them, turn them off. It saves your battery, too — win-win.
10. Have A Disaster Plan
Even with every precaution, bad things happen. Know how to remotely wipe your device if it’s lost or stolen. Keep your backups current. And if you’re a business, have a clear disaster recovery plan in place. Xobee’s IT consulting team is here to help you build one that covers mobile security and every other piece of your tech puzzle.
Stay smart. Stay secure. Stay connected with Xobee.
Your phone is your life — treat it like one of your most valuable assets. At Xobee, we help businesses lock down their data and keep their people connected safely, with top-tier IT consulting, cloud hosting, spam filtering, virus protection, and disaster recovery solutions.
Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and beyond.
