By Lookout, Inc.

SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR SMARTPHONE

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

The sun is out, the sky is blue — it’s time to get rid

of the digital clutter that’s been piling up on you.

THIS MESS GOES BEYOND

YOUR GARAGEMaybe you went on a downloading spree when you unwrapped

your phone over the holidays, or maybe you’ve been

accumulating junk for a while. Either way, there’s a good chance

your phone is starting to look like an episode of Hoarders.

UPDATE YOUR SETTINGS

1

Do you allow downloading from unknown sources? (Hint: You should

check “No”) Does your phone automatically connect to WiFi networks

that might not be secure? (No) Is your device encrypted? (Yes)

!

Spending a few minutes to make sure your phone settings keep the

bad stuff out can save a lot of heartache later on.

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ips!

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS

2

****Between your phone, tablet and computer, how many accounts are

you logged into right now? Do you even know? Change the

passwords to your most used accounts, especially if they hold

important financial or personal information.

!

If you’re using the same passwords across many accounts (not that

you would ever do something like that…), using unique passwords

on the important ones will leave you much less vulnerable to fraud.

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ips!

REVIEW APP PERMISSIONS

3

If your so-called free Flappy Bird knockoff game is requesting

access to your financial info, you might have downloaded more

than you bargained for.

!

It’s best to read reviews and check permissions before you

download an app, but you can double check what your apps

are collecting and uninstall the ones that seem fishy.

UNINSTALL FORGOTTEN APPS

4

Remember that app that was all the craze for about a week three

months ago? Yeah, neither do we.

!

Most of us have about 10 apps we use ALL the time, but the rest

can build up into a crowded graveyard of forgotten apps. Factor

in the fact that some of the lesser known ones may not have the

best privacy standards, and it’s better to just cut the cord.

BACK UP CONTACTS AND PHOTOS

5

Be honest, how much do you love taking pictures of your lunch? We have

nothing against your extensive album of sandwich pics, but they’re

probably taking up space you could be using for other things (like more

lunch pics).

!

We’re living in the digital age, people! There’s no reason that valuable

data has to live only on your phone. Back up what matters, delete what

doesn’t and your phone can be running more efficiently in no time.

Looko

ut can help

!

BE PROACTIVE

6

Download a mobile security app like Lookout to make

sure you and your phone don’t encounter too much

trouble before your next spring cleaning.

For more mobile security tips, follow

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