How safe is your phone from hacking?

⚡ Quick tips

• Lock your phone with Face ID®, fingerprint recognition, or a PIN.
• Install software updates as soon as they're available.
• Download apps only from the Apple App Store® or Google Play™ Store.
• Turn on Find My™ or Find My Device so you can locate or erase a lost phone.

Your phone stores passwords, banking apps, photos, and personal information. While iPhone® and Android™ devices include built-in security features, hackers can still take advantage of weak passwords, fake apps, phishing scams, and outdated software.

The good news? Most phone hacks are preventable.

AT&T ProTech experts have seen it all—and can help with it all. Whether you're setting up a new phone or looking for ways to protect your personal information, here are seven simple ways to make your phone more secure.

Lock your phone

Your lock screen is your first line of defense if your phone is lost or stolen. Use Face ID®, Touch ID®, fingerprint recognition, or a strong PIN to keep your personal information protected.

Keep your software up to date

Software updates don't just add new features—they often fix security vulnerabilities that hackers target.

Turn on automatic updates so your phone stays protected without any extra effort.

Download apps you trust

Stick to the Apple App Store® or Google Play™ Store whenever possible.

Apps from unofficial websites or third-party stores may contain malware that can steal personal information or compromise your device.

Delete old apps

If you don't use an app anymore, delete it, along with its data. Doing so can make your phone more secure, plus free up storage space.

If you once created an account with one of these apps, take a moment to sign in and delete your account so that any associated data gets erased too.

Protect your accounts

Use a unique password for every account and turn on two-factor authentication whenever it's available. Even if someone gets your password, the extra verification step helps keep your accounts secure.

Your phone's encryption adds another layer of protection by scrambling your data so it can't be read without your passcode or biometric authentication. On iPhone®, encryption is enabled when you use a PIN or passcode. On some Android™ devices, you may need to turn on Encryption or Secure startup in your Security settings.

Watch out for phishing scams

Many phone hacks start with a fake email, text, or website.

Before tapping a link or downloading an attachment, make sure you trust the sender. If something feels off, visit the company's website directly instead.

Prepare for a lost phone

Turn on Find My™ (iPhone®) or Find My Device (Android™) before you need it.

These tools let you locate, lock, or erase your phone remotely if it's lost or stolen. Regular backups also make it easier to restore your data to a replacement device. Keeping your phone secure doesn't have to be complicated. A few smart habits can help protect your device and your personal information. Have another tech question? AT&T ProTech experts are only a call or chat away.