BBB Tip of the Week: Take steps to keep your cellphone secure

We know it is dangerous to be distracted while driving and using a mobile phone. This isn’t all that can cause pain and heartache with your device. Today, our mobile phones are connected to everything. They can turn on the heat in our home, alert us when we get a new work email and even sync with smart cars.

But mobile phones also can leave us vulnerable to cyber thieves looking for a way to steal your personal data. Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest offers the following tips to keep your cellphone safe from intruders.

Watch out for smart cars. If you decide to rent a connected car, be sure to delete your settings upon returning the vehicle. Go into the infotainment system’s settings menu to find a list of devices that have been paired with the system. Locate your device and follow the prompts to delete it.

Download updates. Each update you receive for your phone’s operating system includes a current security measure with additional protection.

Free Wi-Fi has risks. You might feel like you’ve scored when you find a restaurant, airport or business that offers free Wi-Fi. But use caution when syncing. Free Wi-Fi allows hackers to easily connect to your phone and gain access to personal data.

Turn off Bluetooth. Bluetooth creates a wireless connection between your phone and other devices or phones. If you are not actively using an enabled device, such as a headset, make sure your Bluetooth is turned off.

App updates. Be careful when you receive an email saying your mobile bank app needs updating. You might just be downloading malware. Only make updates when prompted from the actual app.

Lock it up. Set your phone so you need a pin number to access it and utilize the six-digit option. This protects you if your phone is lost or stolen.

To learn more about scams and identity theft, turn to bbb.org. If you are a victim of a scam, report it to bbb.org/scamtracker.