In a world where hackers constantly find new ways to compromise smartphone security, the United States National Security Agency (NSA) has published a guide of best practices that highlights the importance of regularly restarting devices to defend against certain types of attacks. This simple practice adds to other cybersecurity measures that we already know, such as avoiding installing apps from unknown sources and using a VPN service when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
Despite the advances made by companies like Apple and Google, mobile devices remain vulnerable to sophisticated hacking techniques. For instance, “zero-click exploits” allow attackers to infiltrate a device without any user interaction, taking advantage of zero-day vulnerabilities that have not been patched by the manufacturers.
A notable example of this type of exploit is the spyware software Pegasus from the Israeli company NSO, which has exploited vulnerabilities in both iOS and Android to spy on renowned figures such as the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez. The cybersecurity company CheckPoint emphasizes in a blog post that zero-click exploits can infect a phone simply by sending a specially designed message or image, without the user even opening them.
In light of these eventualities, the NSA recommends restarting your phone at least once a week. According to the U.S. agency, this practice can prevent attacks using zero-click exploits and similar methods, although it is not a foolproof solution. The use of antivirus apps is also recommended, as they may include additional features such as VPNs and password managers. Additionally, on Android devices, Google Play Protect offers an extra layer of security by scanning apps for malware.
For iPhone users, the situation is a bit more complicated due to Apple’s restrictions. Nevertheless, Mac antivirus software such as Intego Mac Internet Security X9 can be used to scan iOS devices by connecting them to a Mac via a USB cable.
Since smartphones store a large amount of personal and financial information, they have become a prime target for hackers. Being proactive by installing the latest updates and taking other preventive measures can help protect both iPhones and Android phones from cyber threats.
