Protect mobile devices as best as possible

Crafts 4.0: Sensitive data is particularly vulnerable on smartphones and tablets. Only with the right security measures can all information remain protected – from hackers, thieves, and our own forgetfulness.

This article is part of the special topic Digital Crafts

Smartphones and tablets are extremely interesting for criminals, because no other device type has so many uses offers. Because in addition to Banking, Shopping and contactless payment Some mobile devices also allow Unlocking front doors and windows in smart homes – or that Starting vehiclesIn the future, driving licenses and ID cards can also be stored digitally in apps.

Especially Craftsmen in the field should therefore protect their equipment as best as possibleSmartphones and tablets are not only exposed to the usual internet threats, they can also be stolen or left behind by customers. Unprotected devices can then be misused by third parties, for example, by reading data or by online shopping trips with other people's credit cards. Criminals have it particularly easy if devices have neither access restrictions nor encryption. On some devices, even Passwords to online shops or banks stored unprotected.

Do not disable security

Although most smartphone users in Germany now use basic protection, some devices easily readable: According to a representative Bitkom-Study from 2023 12 percent of all smartphone owners do not use a screen lock. In addition, 18 percent have no SIM card protectionwhich automatically locks the device when the card is changed. One in three has even switched off the tracking function, which can be used to determine the location of your smartphone or tablet in case of loss.

Viruses and Trojans also often have an easy time: In the summer of 2023, Stiftung Warentest tested various security apps and found that Google Play Protect and Phishing protection of the standard browser Google Chrome only inadequate protection The best result was achieved by a free app: "Intercept X for Mobile" by Sophos, A good news for Apple users: Devices with iOS are much safer due to its design, making virus scanners unnecessary. Nevertheless, additional apps can be useful to further increase security in other areas.

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Criminals have it particularly easy when devices have neither access locks nor encryption.

Observe the requirements of the GDPR

In order to comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Craftsmen with service equipment make sure from the outset that personal data is stored in such a waythat Apps cannot access it without permissionFor this purpose, we recommend, for example, a private or encrypted storage area, which can be created with special apps. Furthermore, tradespeople should always keep an eye on their own smartphones and tablets to prevent unauthorized access. If, despite all precautions, a device is lost or stolen, smartphones can for icloud.com respectively android.com/find not only locate via GPS, rather also delete. These functions simply need to be activated in advance in the device's "Settings."

Risk: Public Wi-Fi hotspots

A major security risk for all mobile devices are public Wi-Fi hotspots, which for example, in cafes, city centers or airports: Here you can Hackers steal databy simply reading information – for example Usernames and passwords, credit card details or emailsThe best antidote in this case: access via a virtual private network (VPN)that reliably encrypts data.

Criminals can also read data unnoticed or even install malware if the smartphone is connected to a public USB port.

A similarly great danger is public USB ports for charging mobile devicesHere, too, criminals can read data from devices unnoticed or even install malware. Therefore, tradespeople should Only charge smartphones and tablets at trusted connections. In the settings of your smartphone or tablet, you can also specify that no data is transferred via the USB port. The safest solution for charging is always your own power supply or a power bank.

Always follow safety rules

Anyone who follows a few basic rules and equips mobile devices with the most important security solutions and functions (see checklist) will achieve Smartphones and tablets offer high data securityTo ensure that all employees have the same level of knowledge, the The entire team should be regularly made aware of potential dangers.

Checklist: More security for smartphones and tablets

basic protection
Screen lock: All devices should go into sleep mode after at most one minute of inactivity.

Access lock: Secure access to each device with biometrics, strong passwords, or patterns. When using patterns, make sure they don't leave telltale smudge marks on the display.

SIM protection: Activate the PIN query for your SIM card.

Security apps: Install and activate a well-tested virus scanner (unnecessary on iOS) and phishing protection on all devices.

updates: Always keep your operating system and apps up to date.

Apps: Only download applications from an official app store.

Data security
Data backups: Back up your data regularly to hard drives or in the cloud.

Encryption: Encrypt your device's data.

Access rights: Check the permissions of installed apps.

Never click on links in unsolicited emails or emails from unknown senders. Raise your employees' awareness of data security and data protection issues.

Device transfer
Data deletion: Before selling, disposing of, or repairing a device, format all storage devices and remove SIM and memory cards. The safest way is to reset the device to factory settings.

Privacy
Camera: Cover the camera to prevent unauthorized recordings by apps or malware.

Network Security
Hotspots: Only use public hotspots with a VPN and ensure that the connection is encrypted (https).

Wireless interfaces: Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC when you don't need them.

Charge: To charge your devices, use the included power adapter or your own power bank. For non-Samsung USB ports, we recommend a data blocker adapter, which plugs between the charging port and the device (price: from approximately €6).

Physical security
Access protection: Never leave your devices unattended.

Theft protection: Enable location detection in your device settings so you can locate it if it's lost or remotely lock or delete data.

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