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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can make a smartphone harder to access, safer to recover, and less exposed to common scams with a few settings and habits. No single measure guarantees security, but these 10 steps help protect your phone and the accounts and information connected to it.
1. How do you lock your phone securely?
Set a passcode and turn on automatic locking so the screen does not stay accessible when you set the phone down. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends using at least a six-digit passcode. A fingerprint or face scan can make unlocking more convenient, but the passcode remains the fallback protection.
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2. How do you keep your phone’s software up to date?
Turn on automatic operating-system updates if your phone offers them, and install updates promptly. Updates can include fixes for security vulnerabilities. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) puts it plainly: “Don’t delay software updates.” Menu names and update availability vary by phone and operating-system version.
3. How should you update and manage apps?
Enable automatic app updates where available, and remove apps you no longer use. Current apps are more likely to include recent security fixes; uninstalling unneeded ones also reduces the number of apps that retain access to your information.
#1 Best Overall
- [2 Pack] This product includes 2 pack privacy screen protectors.WORKS FOR iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro 6.1 Inch tempered glass screen protector.Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps.[Not for iPhone 16 6.1 inch, iPhone 13 mini 5.4 inch, iPhone 13 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Pro Max/iPhone 14 Plus 6.7 inch, iPhone 14 Pro 6.1 inch]
- Specialty: to enhance compatibility with most cases, the Tempered glass does not cover the entire screen. HD ultra-clear rounded glass for iPhone 17e/16e/14/iPhone 13/13 Pro is 99.99% touch-screen accurate.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers,screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen.Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions.(Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Online video installation instruction: Easiest Installation - removing dust and aligning it properly before actual installation,enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
4. How do you back up your phone’s data?
Backups help you recover information if a phone is lost, damaged, or erased. You can use a cloud backup service or an external drive; choose an option you can access and keep protected.
| Option | Useful when | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud backup | You want backups to happen without connecting a separate device. | Check account security, privacy terms, storage limits, and any recurring cost. |
| External drive | You want a separate copy you can store yourself. | Backups require you to connect and manage the drive. CISA recommends disconnecting it when it is not actively being used for backup and storing it safely. |
Before relying on a backup, check that it contains what matters and that you know how to restore it. CISA discusses both vetted cloud storage and external drives without endorsing a particular provider.
Rank #2
- [3+3 Pack] This product includes 3 pack privacy screen protectors and 3 pack camera lens protectors with Installation Frame. Works For iPhone 16 [6.1 inch] tempered glass screen protector and camera lens protector. Featuring maximum protection from scratches, scrapes, and bumps. [Not for iPhone 16e 6.1 inch, iPhone 16 Pro 6.3 inch, iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9 inch, iPhone 16 Plus 6.7 inch]
- Night shooting function: specially designed iPhone 16 6.1 Inch camera lens protective film. The camera lens protector adopts the new technology of "seamless" integration of augmented reality, with light transmittance and night shooting function, without the need to design the flash hole position, when the flash is turned on at night, the original quality of photos and videos can be restored.
- High Privacy: Keeps your personal, private, and sensitive information hidden from strangers, screen is only visible to persons directly in front of screen. Good choose when you are in the bus,elevator,metro or other public occasions. (Note: Due to this privacy cover will darken the image to prevent the peeking eyes near you, you might need to turn your device display brightness up a bit when use it.)
- Easiest Installation - Please watch our installation video tutorial before installation. Removing dust and aligning it properly with the help of the included installation frame before actual installation, enjoy your screen as if it wasn't there.
- 99.99% High-definition clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating protects against sweat and oil residue from fingerprints, and enhance the visibility of the screen.
5. What should you do before your phone is lost or stolen?
Set up the phone’s built-in find, remote-lock, and erase features in advance. These tools can help you locate or secure a missing device; the exact names and steps differ across iPhone and Android versions. Remote erasure can protect data on a lost or stolen phone, but it is not a substitute for a backup.
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One-click scans. No signup required.
6. How do you protect the accounts on your phone?
Use strong, unique passwords
Use a different strong password for each important account. A password manager can help you create and keep track of unique passwords, rather than reusing one password across services.
Rank #3
- [Compatible Models] - 3 Pack Privacy Glass Screen Protector for the iPhone 17e/iPhone 16e/iPhone 14/iPhone 13/iPhone 13 Pro(6.1 inch). Includes 3 privacy screen protectors and a cleaning kit. *Two types of packaging boxes are randomly shipped.
- [Full Coverage Protection] - This screen protector offers edge-to-edge protection for your device, using military-grade explosion-proof glass. It is also compatible with most phone cases, the appropriate size ensures that the phone case won't squeeze the screen protector after installation, providing double protection for the edges of the phone.
- [High Privacy Protection] - The necessary choice for you in public places. Select the optimal anti-peeping angles for the anti-spy coating to balance privacy and visual comfort. Protect your personal privacy and sensitive information from being seen by people nearby who might peek. To better protect your phone, 3mm nano-scale ultra-thin aviation glass is chosen as the material, it also protects your eyes from harsh light, ensuring a softer visual effect.
- [Superior Quality] Made of high-quality tempered glass, free of bubble wrap, easy to install and no residue when disassembled. Maintain the original touch experience, with a high-definition and clear hydrophobic and oleophobic screen coating to prevent fingerprints, sweat and oil residue. High-hardness glass protects your screen from drops, impacts, scratches and breaks, providing ultimate protection for your phone.
- [Face ID Compatible] - Precise cutting combined with high-quality glass material supports the perfect use of the Face ID function, and it can also take high-pixel photos through the front camera.
Turn on multifactor authentication
Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) for email, financial, social, and other important accounts. MFA requires an additional sign-in check beyond a password, such as an authenticator-app prompt or a code. Available methods vary by account. CISA identifies FIDO/WebAuthn as phishing-resistant; consider it where your account, phone, and browser support it. A FIDO2 security key is one optional way to use this kind of authentication, not a requirement for everyone.
7. Where should you get phone apps?
Install apps from trusted, curated stores and check who publishes an app before downloading it. Be cautious if an app requests access that does not make sense for what it does. Removing apps you do not need limits how many apps can access your data. CISA’s consumer mobile-device checklist advises: “Grant least-privilege access to all apps.”
Rank #4
- [Auto-Dusting Removal Installation] Includes everything you need with innovative automatic positioning, dust removal, and absorption technology, making the installation is just effortlessly easy in seconds. The installation tool is exclusively designed for Apple iPhone 13 6.1 inch, it will help you to install screen protectors without air Bubbles or imperfections, even if you don't have any experience.
- True 25° Privacy Protection: Most privacy protector on the market only gives 30° viewing, IMBZBK's Privacy Coatings made of new materials from Germany with Microlourver Optical Technology, It offers optimum 25° degree peep (Smaller viewing angles mean stronger privacy protection). The screen is only visible to persons directly in front of the screen, maximum protection For your privacy & sensitive information, even your friends or colleagues sitting next to you also can't see on your messages.
- Military-Grade Shatterproof Protection: IMBZBK’s screen protector sets a new industry standard with Aerospace-Grade Glass and Nano-Ceramic Fusion technology, providing 10X stronger protection than standard 9H glass. Certified by international Military Standards and SGS, it offers 10X stronger protection against scratches, bumps, and drops. Rigorously tested with 220 lbs impacts, 10-foot drops, and 10,000+ scratches, it ensures your phone remains unscathed in any environment.
- Frontal Ultra HD & Original Touch: IMBZBK's privacy protector break through the defects of the blurred picture of the privacy glass films on the market, highly restore the best visual feast brought by the screen. Even more special...Our 0.28mm ultra-thin privacy glass innovatively applied a 9th gen oleophobic nano coating (top-notch skin-friendly), effectively reduces fingerprints, oil residue by 98% to make it smoother than the original screen!
- Camera Protector & Face ID Compatible: IMBZBK's camera protector made of 9H glass effectively protect entire lens from drops, scratches, other accidents. Nano electrostatic Automatic Adsorption Technology, easy installation and not easy to fall off. Special designed black circle compatible Night Shooting Function, brings you the original of beauty to every photo and video. Due to the precise opening for the front camera, the screen protector does not interfere with the Face ID feature.
8. How should you review app permissions?
Review which apps can use your location and access personal information, then revoke permissions that are not necessary. If your phone offers the option, allow location only while an app is in use. Share as little personal information as an app’s function allows. Settings and available permission choices vary by device and operating-system version.
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9. How do you avoid suspicious texts and links?
Be wary of unexpected messages that urge you to click a link, open an attachment, or disclose personal details. Do not enter account credentials through a link in a message you did not expect. Instead, open the service’s app or type its address yourself, then check your account there. Report or delete suspicious messages.
Best Value
- [Auto-Dusting Removal Installation] Includes everything you need with innovative automatic positioning, dust removal, and absorption technology, making the installation is just effortlessly easy in seconds. The installation tool is exclusively designed for Apple iPhone 14 6.1 inch, it will help you to install screen protectors without air Bubbles or imperfections, even if you don't have any experience.
- True 25° Privacy Protection: Most privacy protector on the market only gives 30° viewing, IMBZBK's Privacy Coatings made of new materials from Germany with Microlourver Optical Technology, It offers optimum 25° degree peep (Smaller viewing angles mean stronger privacy protection). The screen is only visible to persons directly in front of the screen, maximum protection For your privacy & sensitive information, even your friends or colleagues sitting next to you also can't see on your messages.
- Military-Grade Shatterproof Protection: IMBZBK’s screen protector sets a new industry standard with Aerospace-Grade Glass and Nano-Ceramic Fusion technology, providing 10X stronger protection than standard 9H glass. Certified by international Military Standards and SGS, it offers 10X stronger protection against scratches, bumps, and drops. Rigorously tested with 220 lbs impacts, 10-foot drops, and 10,000+ scratches, it ensures your phone remains unscathed in any environment.
- Frontal Ultra HD & Original Touch: IMBZBK's privacy protector break through the defects of the blurred picture of the privacy glass films on the market, highly restore the best visual feast brought by the screen. Even more special...Our 0.28mm ultra-thin privacy glass innovatively applied a 9th gen oleophobic nano coating (top-notch skin-friendly), effectively reduces fingerprints, oil residue by 98% to make it smoother than the original screen!
- Camera Protector & Face ID Compatible: IMBZBK's camera protector made of 9H glass effectively protect entire lens from drops, scratches, other accidents. Nano electrostatic Automatic Adsorption Technology, easy installation and not easy to fall off. Special designed black circle compatible Night Shooting Function, brings you the original of beauty to every photo and video. Due to the precise opening for the front camera, the screen protector does not interfere with the Face ID feature.
10. What should you do when replacing or trading in a phone?
Before handing over an old phone, remove its SIM and memory card if it has one, unlink accounts and trusted-device associations, and factory-reset it. The FTC’s January 2025 guidance recommends these steps when upgrading or transferring a phone. Make sure you have a usable backup before resetting the device.
When these steps may not be enough
This checklist covers general consumer protections; it is not a tailored security plan for someone facing targeted surveillance. If you suspect stalkerware or monitoring by an abusive person, changing settings or searching for help on the monitored phone could alert them. The FTC advises using a safer device and seeking specialized support.
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