How to Safeguard Your Passwords on a Smartphone


These days, very few things computers do that smartphones can’t. Do you want to watch movies? You can use a smartphone. Do you want to access your bank account? You can use a smartphone. Do you want to chat with friends? Most people would argue that smartphones do that even better than computers.

Since everyone does so much on mobile, it’s become more important than ever to learn how to safeguard mobile devices. In this guide, let’s focus on keeping your passwords safe on your smartphone.

1. Lock Your Phone and Enable Anti-Theft and Backup Tools

It may come as a surprise, but more than 52% of people do not lock their mobile devices.

Smartphones are always logged into any accounts that you connect to your phone. It includes emails, social media, streaming sites, and more. Not only that, but they also contain personal photos, videos, conversations, and more.

If a thief gets a hold of an unlocked phone, they can request a password change and lock you out of your accounts. So use whatever tools your smartphone has to lock the device.

For the most protection, create a six-digit (or longer) passcode. Otherwise, you can also use biometrics like fingerprint ID or facial recognition.

Even if they protect your phones with a password, only 44% of people backup their smartphones. In the case of device theft or loss, most have no way of recovering data.

The statistics are even worse for anti-theft tools like Find My iPhone and Find My Device (for Android).

Both operating systems have free backup and anti-theft apps. Use them. Once you enable it, you’ll always know where your phone is before someone gets a hold of your passwords.

2. Install a Password Manager

Now that you took care of physical security, it’s time to protect your passwords and accounts from digital threats. Hackers are increasingly targeting smartphones for the valuable data they contain. The most effective and easiest way to combat cybercriminals is by using an Android password manager.

Password managers allow you to create, manage, and store passwords in secure locations. Using encryption, they create an impenetrable vault for your passwords.

To set one up, you need to download a password manager app. From here, you create a master password for your account that you can sync to your thumbprint or facial scan.

Next, import your online accounts and create new, secure passwords. There’s a built-in password generator to take care of this for you. Instead of something like “password123,” the password manager creates a robust and random combination like “dGrvv6C%z.” Paste it into your account password slot and confirm.

From that moment forward, the password manager takes care of remembering passwords for you. And it can also autofill credentials to other apps and sites when you need to log in.

And since there are also browser extensions and desktop apps, whenever you need to change a password, you can do it from any device. The password manager syncs it between your phone and computer. That means if you change your Facebook password on mobile, you’ll have no trouble logging into when you move over to your laptop.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) works by sending a one-time passcode to you via email, SMS, or an app. While it’s not 100% secure, nothing gets you closer to that number.

Use 2FA on any platform it’s available, especially for banking and financial apps. But considering how quick it is to use, you might as well enable it in lower stake environments like streaming apps or social media. A little effort on your part can go a long way in fending off cybercriminals.

4. Mind Where You Store Your Private Data

When you use a password manager, this isn’t much of a problem. You can use the secure notes function to store different types of sensitive information. For example, if you need to keep your Tax ID number, the password to your desktop computer, or anything else, you can store this information there.

The most important thing to remember is to never keep your passwords in the open. Always make sure a secure layer of encryption protects them from unauthorized access.

Safeguarding Your Passwords Made Easy

The role of smartphones is only going to increase over the next few years. It’s high time you started paying attention to privacy and security. The best way to do this is by locking your device and then securing your accounts with an Android password manager. Read more information here:


Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here