The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has given advice on cybersecurity and mobile phone safety that appears to be quite effective.
Specifically, according to Lifewire, the Australian Prime Minister is simply following the basic guidance provided by IT professionals worldwide: Turn off your mobile phone, leave it off for five minutes, and then turn it back on.
Rebooting a computer, for example, stops all running applications and restores the device to a known state. For IT professionals, this can help resolve various issues. In fact, this action may even mitigate certain types of malicious software, but restarting your mobile phone is part of your overall cybersecurity.
Why you should turn off your mobile phone
Malicious software targeting specific individuals can exploit vulnerabilities in software with a “no-click” message. In this scenario, the attacker sends a carefully crafted message to the target’s mobile phone, and the malicious software activates on the device without any user interaction. The message then self-deletes, making it almost impossible for the victim to detect the cyberattack.
While this is a frightening prospect, rebooting your mobile phone may remove this threat, and the attacker would need to repeat the aforementioned process. Even the United States National Security Agency (NSA) recommends daily reboots for individuals who might be potential targets. It’s highly unlikely that you will fall victim to such a targeted attack, but the rebooting trick can also work for other types of threats.
The key is to reboot your device, which ensures that your devices continue to function smoothly. With a laptop, rebooting can be a more involved process, as you may need to save open documents and reopen applications or rearrange windows. However, with an iPhone or an iPad, for example, you will return immediately to where you left off. Some apps may take a bit longer to start, but this isn’t usually a significant inconvenience.
Of course, the best practice is to avoid getting infected with malicious software in the first place. As mentioned, the likelihood of being targeted with a “no-click” attack is minimal, but there are many other ways to fall victim. Protecting your mobile phone is straightforward and clear.
“It is essential for consumers not to open unwanted emails, never download unknown attachments, never click on potentially malicious links in emails, social media messages, or SMS, and to be careful about the applications they install on their devices,” says Oliver Ley, a specialist in Security and Personal Data Protection at ProPrivacy, according to Lifewire.
So, you should consider turning off your phone for five minutes each day, much like you brush your teeth daily, as suggested by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It’s a simple practice that can enhance your overall cybersecurity.
