--- title: 11 best practices for computer and smartphone security. description: Since 1998, November 30th is Computer Security Day. Here are 11 things to help keep online data safe and secure as the concerns about privacy and security grow image: https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Site%20support%20images/ComputerSecurityDayBlogImage.jpg --- - [Partners](https://privoro.com/find-a-partner) - [Support](https://privoro.com/support) [![Privoro Logo](https://blog.privoro.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/privoro-logo.png?width=238&height=113&name=privoro-logo.png "Privoro Logo")](https://privoro.com/) - Solutions - [Phones in classified spaces](https://privoro.com/solutions/secure-spaces) - [Prevent mobile surveillance](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-from-listening-and-watching) - [Stop location tracking](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-location-tracking) - [Prevent wireless attacks](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-wireless-attacks) - [Hide from RF detection](https://privoro.com/solutions/go-dark-from-cellular-network) - Products - [SafeCase](https://privoro.com/safecase) - [Vault](https://privoro.com/vault) - [Secure Mobility Platform](https://privoro.com/fulcrum) - Industries - [Government](https://privoro.com/government) - [Enterprise](https://privoro.com/enterprise) - Company - [About Us](https://privoro.com/about-us) - [Team](https://privoro.com/team) - [Newsroom](https://privoro.com/newsroom) - [Media Kit](https://privoro.com/media-kit) - [Blog](https://blog.privoro.com/) - [Content Library](https://privoro.com/content-library) - [Advanced Mobile Threats 101](https://privoro.com/advanced-mobile-threats-101) - [Legal](https://privoro.com/legal) ![menu bars](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/line-bars.svg) ![Close icon](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/times.svg) - Solutions - [Phones in classified spaces](https://privoro.com/solutions/secure-spaces) - [Prevent mobile surveillance](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-from-listening-and-watching) - [Stop location tracking](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-location-tracking) - [Prevent wireless attacks](https://privoro.com/solutions/prevent-smartphone-wireless-attacks) - [Hide from RF detection](https://privoro.com/solutions/go-dark-from-cellular-network) - Products - [SafeCase](https://privoro.com/safecase) - [Vault](https://privoro.com/vault) - [Secure Mobility Platform](https://privoro.com/fulcrum) - Industries - [Government](https://privoro.com/government) - [Enterprise](https://privoro.com/enterprise) - Company - [About Us](https://privoro.com/about-us) - [Team](https://privoro.com/team) - [Newsroom](https://privoro.com/newsroom) - [Media Kit](https://privoro.com/media-kit) - [Blog](https://blog.privoro.com/) - [Content Library](https://privoro.com/content-library) - [Advanced Mobile Threats 101](https://privoro.com/advanced-mobile-threats-101) - [Legal](https://privoro.com/legal) - [Partners](https://privoro.com/find-a-partner) - [Support](https://privoro.com/support) - [![Linkedin](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Linkedin.png)Opens a new window](https://www.linkedin.com/company/privoro) - [![Youtube](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Youtube.png)Opens a new window](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKPqnNWnZoEMfKJMtwYq5vQ) - [![Twitter](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Twitter.png)Opens a new window](https://twitter.com/privoro) - [![Facebook](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Privoro_November2022/Images/Facebook.png)Opens a new window](https://www.facebook.com/Privoro) ![close](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Privoro_November2022/images/cross.svg) ## Contact Have a question or inquiry? We're here to help. ![](https://blog.privoro.com/hubfs/Site%20support%20images/ComputerSecurityDayBlogImage.jpg) # 11 best practices for computer and smartphone security. Published by [Julie Dexter Berg](https://blog.privoro.com/author/julie-dexter-berg) on Nov 30, 2017 7:00:00 AM Computer Security Day. At last a social media holiday that offers an opportunity to take stock of the technologies that enable everyone’s socialness to check your current [computer security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_security) posture. And this includes your smartphone. The first Computer Security Day occurred in 1988. A time when computers proliferated in businesses and government but had yet to become a ubiquitous presence in every home and the portability of today mere science fiction. Looking back, it seems almost quaint. Today of course, there is a computer in every hand. The sheer volume of data created and increasingly sophisticated ways of monetizing it calls for unprecedented vigilance. Today’s best practices allow for policing apps, encrypting data and looking for anomalies. But solutions for the full smartphone ecosystem don’t yet exist, and this leaves companies and users at the mercy of the motivated individual, company or country who’s trying to gain a competitive edge or financial advantage. Because so many ways exist to gather information from smartphones – both legally and illegally – businesses should take a layered approach to [securing enterprise mobile data](https://privoro.com/enterprise) as well as protecting the privacy of the mobile workforce. Here are 11 best practices to consider: 1. Defining the security context/goals for the phone, applying the commonly used framework of confidentiality, integrity and availability for its functions and data. 2. Leverage full disk encryption provided by device manufacturers in combination with policies for strong passwords, auto-lock after a short time and device wipe after limited number of incorrect entries. 3. For data in motion such as calling and texting/messaging: Leverage 3rd party, open source, independently reviewed and vetted encrypted messaging apps such as [*Signal*](https://signal.org/). 4. For policy enforcement and scalable device management: Use mobile device management software. 5. Create separate containers/environments for work and personal use in phones whose operating system allows it. 6. Use mobile threat management software to detect known (and in some, limited cases, unknown) mobile attacks, jailbreak detection, etc. 7. Keep the device OS updated/patched. Always. 8. If developing custom, corporate apps: Verify and secure the development platform, apply secure coding best practices and ensure there is a plan and resources to keep apps updated on a timely basis. 9. Use multi-factor authentication to increase access security to corporate resources. 10. Use burner phones for international travel and/or take the phone off-grid (i.e. [smartphone Faraday cage](https://privoro.com/vault)) while transiting high threat, choke point areas such as airports or while visiting confidential locations (e.g., M&A site visits, customer/partner meetings, etc.). 11. Secure smartphone sensors when not in use or needed. These include microphones, cameras and RF signals, preventing surveillance and the leakage of sensitive information in the [proximity](https://blog.privoro.com/what-is-proximity-data) of the device, even if the phone has been compromised by legitimate or illegitimate sources. The bottom line: You should be in control of when you are tracked and monitored. That means adhering to best practices and always taking a proactive approach. Computer Security is a team responsibility, feel free to share this post with colleagues who may benefit! [![Email to a Colleague](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/3419919/a052b117-44b2-4216-a7a4-06119ac8615f.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/3419919/a052b117-44b2-4216-a7a4-06119ac8615f) Also, if you would like to learn more about advanced endpoint hardware and software solutions that provide security, privacy and control in an ultra-connected, sensor-driven world, contact us at privoro.com to learn more about our [mobile security solutions](https://privoro.com/) and [SafeCase for iPhone](https://privoro.com/safecase). Tags: [Mobile Security](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/mobile-security), [Computer Security](https://blog.privoro.com/tag/computer-security) [Back to Blog](https://blog.privoro.com) ## Related Articles ## [Corporate espionage has gone mobile and gotten personal.](https://blog.privoro.com/corporate-espionage-has-gone-mobile-and-gotten-personal) Economic espionage – also known as industrial espionage, corporate espionage and corporate spying... [Read More](https://blog.privoro.com/corporate-espionage-has-gone-mobile-and-gotten-personal) ## [Cybersecurity tips. Part 1: Awareness.](https://blog.privoro.com/cybersecurity-tips.-part-1-awareness) When I started my career over 20 years ago, I was issued a corporate laptop with a phone-line... [Read More](https://blog.privoro.com/cybersecurity-tips.-part-1-awareness) ## [Cybersecurity tips. 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