Secure Your Devices
Your phone, laptop and computer hold valuable personal information. Discover practical ways to protect them against malware, theft and unauthorised access.
Why device security matters.
Your devices may contain photographs, saved passwords, banking applications, emails and access to other online accounts.
Protecting your device helps protect everything connected to it.
✓ Install security updates
✓ Enable automatic screen locking
✓ Use device encryption
✓ Maintain reliable backups
✓ Install applications from trusted sources
Keep your software updated.
Software vulnerabilities are weaknesses that attackers may exploit.
Manufacturers release security updates to address known vulnerabilities and improve device protection.
Enable automatic updates where possible. Replace devices or software that no longer receive security support.
Lock your devices.
A screen lock helps prevent someone from accessing your information if your device is lost or left unattended.
Avoid sharing your device's unlock code. Use separate accounts when multiple people need access to a computer.
Protect your stored information.
Device encryption helps protect stored information from unauthorised access, particularly when a device is switched off or locked.
Windows
Supported Windows devices may offer Device Encryption or BitLocker. Availability depends on your edition and hardware.
Phones
Modern iPhones and many Android devices provide built-in encryption. Use a strong screen lock.
If your encryption system provides a recovery key, store it securely. Losing your recovery method could make your files inaccessible.
Prepare for the unexpected.
Devices can fail, become infected with ransomware or simply disappear. Backups help you recover important data.
Documents, photographs and other valuable information
External storage or another trusted device
Secure cloud storage or an offline backup
The 3-2-1 backup approach recommends keeping three copies of important data, using two types of storage, with one copy stored separately.
Test restoring your backups. A backup is only useful if you can successfully recover your files.
Think before installing software.
Malicious applications may attempt to steal information, display unwanted advertising or compromise your device.
Official app stores reduce certain risks but cannot guarantee that every application is safe.
Understand your security tools.
Modern operating systems include security features designed to detect and prevent malicious activity.
No security product guarantees complete protection. Updates, sensible permissions and careful browsing remain important.
What if your device disappears?
Preparing in advance makes it easier to respond when a phone or laptop is lost or stolen.
If a device is stolen, prioritise your personal safety rather than attempting to recover it yourself.
Your ten-minute security audit.
Choose your phone or computer and work through these checks.
Identify at least one setting you can improve today.
Privacy & Tracking.
Next we'll explore browser privacy, tracking cookies, app permissions and ways to reduce your digital footprint.