Smartphones offer people plenty of convenience, but they also create more risks for your privacy as they can provide third parties with unwanted insights into your personal data.
If you are in Kuwait or interested in visiting the country, you must make sure your mobile devices are secure. We have curated a guide that will help to keep your information safe.
Protect Your Phone with a Passcode
The easiest way to protect or use your smartphone safely in Kuwait is by adding a passcode.
Depending on your device, you could go with a four-digit code, fingerprint scan or facial recognition to keep your delicate information away from prying eyes.
Some devices allow the use of complex passwords, so take full advantage of this feature to strengthen your phone’s protection.
This will help to prevent unscrupulous third parties from accessing your personal data, apps and online accounts.
Watch Out for Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks are not always secure, so if you fancy surfing the internet in outdoor spaces such as coffee shops or malls, you must be careful.
Hackers often use public Wi-Fi services use it as a gateway to access data from unprotected networks, especially those with weak security or encryption.
Since it is almost impossible to completely avoid using public Wi-Fi, always make sure the website you’re visiting is secure and avoid accessing sensitive data such as bank accounts or personal emails.
Turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if they are not in use. These wireless services are handy when you need them, but they also leave your devices vulnerable to potential threats.
Hackers could use them to access your device, but turning them off renders that void, and there is the added bonus of improving your battery life.
Manage Your Location
The GPS on your mobile devices can track your location, which is incredibly useful for maps or finding restaurants, but you should not leave it on all the time.
Turning it off when it is not in use reduces the chances of your mobile apps tracking your movements.
You also get to pick and choose which app gets permission to use your location. This is absolutely necessary to protect your private data.
Download Apps from Trusted Sources
Apps are an excellent way of improving your mobile experience, but some of them can be detrimental to your device and private data.
Some collect way more data than necessary and others could be red flags, so make sure it is from a reliable source before downloading any app.
If an app asks for more permission than it needs, such asaccess to your contacts or camera when it is not necessary, you are better off avoiding them or denying those permissions.
Accessing Gambling Sites
Online gambling is still strictly prohibited by law in Kuwait, but that has not stopped people from wagering within the country’s borders.
There are numerous online casinos in Kuwait, but they are licensed by international regulators. However, you must exercise caution when accessing these platforms.
Always make sure they are licensed and reputable. Use secure connections and never gamble while connected to a public Wi-Fi as it could expose your data.
If you choose to use mobile apps for gambling instead, download them from their official app stores and keep an eye on the reviews to confirm their legitimacy.
Regularly Update Your Software
Keeping your phone’s operating system and apps updated will go a long way to strengthening your data security.
Developers regularly release updates to fix bugs and protect against new security threats, so keep an eye out for notifications about new updates.
While using the latest instalment of operating systems is always tempting, you may be better off going just one step below as newly released updates may not be stable enough.
If you must update to the latest version, give it a couple of weeks or at least a month after its release before installing it on your mobile device.
Review Your Apps & Log Out of Dormant Accounts
It is easy to forget about the apps you have downloaded over time, but it’s worth checking them every so often, as some may be tracking your data without your knowledge.
Make sure to uninstall any apps you no longer use or do not recognise. That will also free up space and reduce the risk of a stranger gaining access to your private data through old or unwanted apps.
You should also consider logging out of apps you are no longer using, as they could be tracking your data while open in the background.
