Secure your mobile devices

We use our mobile phones and tablets to store and access our most important personal data on the go, wherever we go.

Photos, text messages, apps, contacts and emails are the examples that probably first come to mind. But there are also other kinds of sensitive data on our mobile devices. For example, our account details, login information, data within our apps, browser history and connections to other devices we own.

Having all this data in one place is certainly handy. But it means you need to be extra careful to keep your mobile devices secure.

Securing your devices can help protect you from identity theft, fraud, phishing scams and other online scams. Keep reading to learn how.

Tips to secure your mobile phone and tablet

One of the most effective ways to secure your mobile phone and tablet is to make your passcode tricky to guess. It's very easy for someone to figure out your passcode if you use a simple pattern or base your passcode on information about yourself (such as your date of birth). Instead:
- Be creative with your passcode. Come up with a complicated pattern or choose a set of numbers that are completely random and unrelated to yourself.
- Use face ID or fingerprint ID to unlock your device, if available. Biometrics like face ID or fingerprint ID are a great option as only you can access them.
Top tip:
Don’t store account passwords, PINs or identity documents on your phone or tablet without using additional protection. We recommend storing them in a password manager protected with a strong password or facial recognition.
Turning on your device’s tracking function can help if your device is lost or stolen. This function lets you:
- track where your device is on a map
- play a sound so you can find it if it’s close by
- ring it
- lock it remotely
- put a note on it with your contact details so anyone who finds it can reach out to you
- erase the data on it.
That way, if someone gets hold of your device, they won’t get their hands on your data.
Keeping the software on your devices updated is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself online. Updates allow for weaknesses in the software (also known as vulnerabilities) to be fixed. They also help ensure your devices work well and smoothly.
It’s important to install updates when you see they’re available. A more convenient option is to turn on automatic updates.
Learn more in our article, Update your devices.
Do you own an older device?
Your device may not receive software updates anymore if the device or its operating system is too old.
This is called ‘end of support’. End of support can put your device and information at risk. The best way to keep your data safe is to upgrade to a newer device.
Apps can impact the security of our devices and data. Remember these tips when downloading and using apps:
Use official app stores. Download new apps from the official app store for your device. For Android phone users, this will be Google Play, while for iPhone users, this will be Apple App Store.
If you install an app from somewhere else, there’s a higher risk of it being a fake app. Cybercriminals create fake apps to trick you into thinking it’s the official app, so they can then steal your login details or install malware on your device.
Top tip
By default in Australia, Apple doesn’t allow the direct installation of third-party apps outside the App Store.
For Android phones, you can configure your phone settings to prevent third-party apps from installing. Check your settings to do this.
You can set your phone to require approval before apps are installed. This applies to both Android and Apple phones. Parental controls can also be used for this purpose.
Turn on automatic updates for apps. Turning on automatic updates for your apps means you’ll be using the most recent and safest version of it.
Check app permissions and settings. Make sure your apps don’t have access to any features that you’re not comfortable with. For example, not every app needs access to your messages, photos, contacts, location, camera and microphone. If there are any apps you no longer use, delete them.
Unsecured public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots are untrusted. This means that other people may be able to see what you're doing when you use them.
That’s why it’s recommended to use your cellular data (the 4G or 5G data you pay for) when you’re out.
If you must use public Wi-Fi, keep the following tips in mind :
Don’t use it for online shopping, internet banking or when you need to enter credit card details or passwords.
Only use it for situations you don’t need to enter your personal details. For example, checking the weather or news.
If you must access important online accounts on it, such as your email, ensure you have multi-factor authentication (MFA) set up first.
When joining the network or hotspot, select ‘Public network’ (rather than ’Private network’) if you have the choice. Selecting ‘Public network’ will offer more protection. For example, it will automatically disable file sharing. This helps prevent cybercriminals from accessing your files or putting malware on your device.
When you’re done, disconnect from any public Wi-Fi networks and clear them from your phone.
Don't let your device automatically connect to public Wi-Fi networks. Turn this off in your phone’s Wi-Fi settings.
Watch out for scams and phishing attempts on your mobile devices, in messages sent by SMS, instant message, email or social media.
Cybercriminals pretending to be someone else may ask you to click a link, open an attachment or provide information like your account or financial details. So beware – doing so could lead to identity theft, financial loss or a malware infection.
If something doesn’t feel right, stop. Instead, use the organisation’s official website, app or call centre to check if the request was legitimate.
Learn more in our articles, Protect yourself against phishing and Stay safe from scams.
Do you plan to sell, replace or give away your device? Or send it in for repairs? Before you do, it's a good idea to first:
- Do a full backup and then do a factory reset to erase any data on the device.
- Remove any cards stored in your device, such as a SIM card or SD card. If you were using an eSIM, you can replace or suspend it.
- Disable the ‘Find my’ feature.
- Unregister your device from your Apple ID or Google Account.
For more advice, read the ACSC’s guide on how to dispose of your device securely.

Get help

If your mobile phone or tablet is lost or stolen, the following steps may help:

Use the ‘Find my’ feature to remotely lock your device.

Use the location function to track down your device if it’s lost.

Report and provide the location of your device if it’s stolen.

Wipe the contents of the device, if possible.

How do I secure my computer or laptop?

A lot of the advice in this article applies to your computer and laptop too. Read of our articles, Update your devices and Backup your data and devices, to learn more practical tips.

Safety & emergencies

Updated 19 February 2025

Secure your mobile devices

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Tips to secure your mobile phone and tablet

Get help

How do I secure my computer or laptop?