The interest in crypto only continues to increase. More and more people are buying their first coins, but what is often forgotten: the security of your smartphone.
Nowadays your iPhone is the gateway to almost everything – banking, personal data and therefore also your digital coins.
Wallets and security
Those who buy crypto need a wallet. You can go for a so -called custodial wallet, where a third party stores your keys safely. Handy, but you do fully trust that provider.
If you choose a non-custodial wallet, you manage your private keys yourself. That gives you more control, but also more responsibility: if you lose the keys, then you have lost your coins. With that choice you have to handle carefully.
Please note, not every crypto coin can be stored in any cryptowallet. So opt for established crypto coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, or if you want to go for maximum profit you can also look at new cryptos. Read more here About the best crypto coins of the moment.
Updates and passwords
It may sound boring, but the simplest steps are often the most effective. Make sure your iPhone always runs on the latest iOS version. Apple regularly issues updates that close security leaks, and criminals make eager use of it if you are lagging behind. Also put on automatic updates so that you don’t always have to think about it.
In addition: your access code. Avoid that standard pin code of four digits. Choose six digits or, better yet, an alphanumeric code. You really don’t want someone to get your phone open with a few simple attempts. Enable Face ID or Touch ID is also smart, because that makes it more difficult for curious fingers.
AppLe ID and two -factor authentication
Your Apple ID is the core of your iPhone. If someone gets access to that account, everything is open: iCloud, messages, photos and therefore also possible wallets. Two factor authentication (2FA) is indispensable here. You will then receive an extra code or confirmation when logging in, so that even if someone guesses or steals your password, they still can’t just get in.
Also make sure you not used the same password That you already have elsewhere. That is asking for misery, especially at a time when data breaches appear in the news almost weekly. Use a password manager if you don’t feel like remembering dozens of unique passwords.
Public WiFi: Avoid it with sensitive transactions
A pitfall where many people kick in: open your crypto app quickly while you are on a public network, for example in a cafe or airport. Public WiFi is notorious for cyber attackswhere malicious parties can intercept data traffic.
So always use your own mobile data or a reliable VPN for sensitive things. With that you make it a lot harder for others to look with. And let’s be honest: for a purchase that involves real money, you don’t want to be at risk.
Phishing and Social Engineering
The biggest weakness is often not the technology, but the user. Phishing emails or fake SMSs that lead you to a false login page are still one of the most successful methods for criminals. So always be critical: don’t just click on links and check the sender carefully.
Also phone calls or messages in which someone occurs as a bank or even a crypto-existge are popular. Remember: a reliable party never requires your passwords or seed Phrase. If someone does, you know enough.
Download apps: Be CHOOSE
Not every app in the App Store is reliable, even though it seems. Criminals sometimes find ways to get rogue apps through the inspection. Therefore, only download crypto apps from well-known, large parties and always check if you have the official version. Look at reviews and the name of the developer.
Also do not install unnecessary apps that require access to your data. The more apps, the greater the chance that one is not completely pure. Keep your iPhone as clean as possible, especially if you want to use it for crypto purchases.
Encryption and backup
iPhones are well encrypted as standard, but that only works if you take your access code seriously. In addition, regularly make a backup via iCloud or via your computer. If something happens, then you still have a safe copy of your data.
Please note: if you have a wallet with private keys that you manage yourself, you must also ensure that they fit safely into your backup strategy. Some wallets do not store sensitive data in iCloud, so you are responsible for that yourself.
SIM swapping and mobile security
A relatively new danger is SIM swapping. Hereby a criminal manages to transfer your SIM card number to another Sim, often by occurring like you at the provider. This gives them access to SMS codes that you may still use as verification.
The solution: where possible, use an authenticator app instead of SMS for two-factor authentication. And set an extra pin code with your provider, so that someone cannot just take over your Sim.