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Your smartphone’s lack of security could potentially damage not only your day, but also your life. Who knows what people store in their smartphone nowadays, and one just can’t let their phone be vulnerable from hackers who employ phishing attacks day and night.

A hacked phone can lead to a damaged reputation or a damaged credit score. You can’t be clueless as to how to protect your phone or how to tell if it’s already been hacked. If this got you scared enough, you can also take a look at our last week’s post: 16 Things You Should Know About Digital Privacy Invasion.

But for now, let’s discover the 9 signs that rings the alarm of your phone being hacked:

1. Your smartphone takes forever to load or power up

Is your phone taking way too long to load up or power up? There could be three reasons why it does this:

1. Your phone’s memory capacity is almost full
2. You have too many heavy apps (gaming, social media, etc) running in the background
3. A malware

Now that we’ve got that straightened out, let’s take away the other factors that could be affecting your phone’s performance. Your phone, under normal usage shouldn’t lag or get clunky, unless when you are running gaming apps that are processor or bandwidth intensive.

You might also think using up your phone’s ROM is totally unrelated but there are certain phones which gets affected with a low memory capacity, so you should also take this into consideration. If you think your phone is running out of memory, you can opt to add a memory card to extend the memory or put some of your data on a cloud storage to free up some space.

However, if the first two aren’t factors close to consideration, you can run a malware check on your phone and have the malwares or suspicious files removed. There are anti-malware apps that are offered free for a certain trial period and you can take advantage of that to remove the malwares that could be harming your phone or stealing your data.

But you might be asking how do malwares slow down your phone? Malwares slow down your phone because they take a bit of your phone’s processor or bandwidth capacity to operate. They can piggyback on some of your apps and that could also be a reason why some apps are running slow or “crashing” when you use them.

It’s important to install an anti-malware app or software on your phone but it’s just as important to examine whether your phone’s processor capacity is enough to run it. There are phones that just aren’t made for apps that uses up a lot of memory or is needing a bigger processor.

If you think your phone isn’t made for a bigger hustle, you shouldn’t load it up with apps that are too heavy for its use.

2. Your battery is drained up faster

In relation to the previous item, malwares also use up a lot of power aside from processor capacity. It’s just like playing an online game, if you are playing online games or are multi-tasking, your battery drains faster compared to just texting or simple browsing the net.

Now, since malwares run in the background, which you don’t likely notice, they will eat up your phone’s power faster than it used to. And as mentioned, since some malwares piggyback on other apps, it will now take more power for the app to run properly. It affects not only how fast your phone performs but also the length of its battery life.

3. You have apps you didn’t even install

Some of these malwares can come as innocent offers, like pop-ups offering to help you free up some memory space and even trick you into thinking they are anti-malwares.

But how do these apps end up on your phone when you didn’t install them in the first place? Well, there are too many circumstances that could lead to this, but here are a few to consider:

1. You clicked on an advertisement that uses phishing/spamming
2. You accidentally installed the apps from annoying pop-ups that ask you to click “ok” or “I agree” unsuspiciously
3. You have installed apps from suspicious websites that come with another phishing app/software.

You can easily uninstall these apps or if you think your phone is too “infected” you can reformat it or the memory card where you stored the installed apps. Make sure to backup your data though, because you won’t be able to retrieve them after cleaning up your phone or memory card.

4. Your phone bill has weird unexpected charges

If you think the excess charge on your bills (which you have no idea about) is the only problem, you better think again. Some service providers have let their users to receive text messages from subscription based third-party vendors for services that are sometimes illegitimate.

Some of these text messages that get through has spam links that may lead you to suspicious websites or spam your inbox with messages that you don’t want at all. What’s worse is that you are paying for them!

If you are seeing these type of messages, you can call your service provider to help you opt out of these subscription-based text messaging services.

5. Your phone is accessing bad sites

Have you ever been reported to your head office because your phone has been caught accessing bad sites a.k.a. porn sites?

You know you wouldn’t do it using a company-provided VPN so if it wasn’t you, it sure was someone else pretending to be you. If you think your VPN ID or your login credentials have been leaked or stolen by someone else, you have to report it to your company’s IT department.

If that’s going to take long, you can start cleaning up the devices where you have logged in using VPN. Cleaning up can mean erasing your browsing history, removing your remembered passwords on browsers, and generally applying extra security measures.

Also recycling your password or having the same password for your email, social media, or banking app accounts is not really recommended. It is advisable that you even change your passwords regularly, like more than twice a year to keep you from hackers that maybe just lurking around the internet neighborhood.

Installing a firewall, either a router or a software is also advised as these will help you stay private when you are on the internet.

6. Some apps aren’t working properly

As mentioned earlier, if you have apps that aren’t working properly, there might be malwares that are piggybacking on them or are interrupting the way your phone functions.

Some malwares are designed to slowly damage the apps installed in your phone. There are also some which are really designed to slowly damage your phone’s processor. If there are no significant changes or additions to your smartphone, you shouldn’t be experiencing any lag or any particular issues on your other apps.

If you are willing, you can also isolate the issue by doing a simple uninstall and reinstall to see if it’s just a problem with one app or a problem with your phone itself.

7. Your social media accounts are being accessed on places you haven’t been to

Social media sites like Facebook and Google, do take note of your location every time you log in. This helps them accurately suggest places you want to visit or provide related advertisements according to your current location.

This also serves as an added security feature, since you will be able to receive alerts every time there is a new device log in or if you’ve been logged in to places you weren’t usually logged in to.

For Facebook, you can check these “places” in the Account Security section. You will blown away with how much data Facebook really holds about you, and if you find suspicious logins from places you haven’t been to, you can choose to click on the “Not You?” option to let Facebook block any logins from the device logged in on that location.

From there, Facebook will walk you through the process of creating a new password and employing another set of security measure such as 2FA (2-Factor Authentication) to

If you are using gmail, you will also be able to detect new logins, and Google can help you block suspicious logins from unrecognized devices to prevent them from accessing your account again in the future.

8. You have ad pop-ups that you didn’t have before

A hacked phone doesn’t only mean leaked private videos, it could also mean annoying pop-ups that flash on your phone every time you open it. If you have pop-ups you can’t get out of or when you get them even when you are not on the internet, chances are the malwares have already stitched themselves to your phone and it’s going to be a a little challenging to get them off.

One way to get this fixed is to reformat your phone or to install an anti-malware software to get rid of the ad pop-ups.

9. Your personal data or information is being leaked

This is probably the worst thing that can happen to you when your phone is being hacked but don’t lose hope. Take the necessary security measures to keep your phone from being hacked!

Your iPhone X may look like it has the best set of security features, but hackers are getting smarter everyday. It’s best to keep your passwords to yourself or change them regularly. Adding 2FA or two-factor authentications also help you track every login on your online accounts. Adding a router, a firewall, or backing up your data on a secured cloud service provider is also one way to keep things protected.

Takeaway: Your phone is doing stuff you didn’t do.

You don’t need to be a famous celebrity or a big ball businessperson to become a target of hackers as anyone can be a victim.

A hacked phone can be doing stuff you didn’t do like sending text or messages that are spamming people’s inbox. A hacked phone can also become a medium to help the hackers reach more people and steal their information, so if you happen to have received messages from friends or contacts that you are sending suspicious messages, immediately report this to your service provider or to the authorities.

TL;DR

1. Google is collecting data about you through your phone.
2. Phishing comes in so many forms.
3. Never trust your password to anyone, not even your phone.
4. Use Password Managers.
5. Change your passwords regularly.
6. Add an extra layer of lock to your phone.
7. Clean your browsers more often (than your house).
8. Don’t just click “OK” or “I agree” absentmindedly.
9. Employ 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) for all withdrawals (and on all your online accounts).
10. Check the fidelity of your Social Media accounts.
11. Create A Guest Wifi Network.
12. Install a Firewall on your computer or on your home network.
13. Use a VPN to hide your ass.
14. Avoid using public Wi-Fi.
15. Install manufacturer updates when needed.
16. Be careful with the apps you install.

When we think about privacy in the digital world, we all suddenly feel anxious. Are we truly safe from privacy invasion? Are our phones especially equipped to keep our bank details, emails, phone numbers, etc free from hackers and digital thieves?

We’ve heard enough stories from people who lost their money because of email phishing and of those whose private videos got exposed and never got their peace again. It’s adding up to the anxiety people are burdened with nowadays, even after the extraordinary layer of security technology has to offer.

Mobile phones in particular, is one of the most vulnerable gadgets that is prone to hacker attacks. It gets especially hotter nowadays, since more and more people are using their mobile phones to buy things online, and even purchase products right off the shelves at Walmart.

Although mobile phones have become the best boon for humankind, it could also be the source of our greatest bane. With all the threats that’s going on around us, what can you do or what do you need to know to keep yourself safe when using your phone?

Well, let’s delve deeper and discover what you should know and what you can do to protect your privacy and essentially, your life.

1. Google is collecting data about you through your phone.

Did you know that you are being stalked by Google? Google knows almost everything about you. It can predict with absolute accuracy what you want to buy, what you want to search about, and even tell you where you’ve been last.

Google’s AI helps them know what ads to suggest based on your search behavior. And on your phone, there’s a default Google app that lets them know your location so they can suggest the best restaurants, places to visit, and report accurate temperature.

Ever since GPS, it was possible for anyone to follow us around or stalk without us knowing, and of course, this is a government initiative through NASA. Your mobile phone picks up signal from your mobile phone service provider towers and they can predict with almost perfect accuracy where you are at the moment just by using that data alone.

By default, Android and iOS users have GPS trackers enabled, but there’s no need to sulk, you can disable these location trackers just as easily. Here’s how to stop your phone from logging your location:

To Disable location reporting on Android:

1. Go to Settings
2. Location
3. Google Location Settings
4. Switch slider off on both Location Reporting and Location History
5. Delete Location History
6. Repeat process on each Google Account on your device.

Note that by disabling these services you are essentially limiting Google on suggesting information that may be of help to you. Nonetheless, you can leave Location Reporting on when you think you need it. You can also block Google from seeing your location through the help of a VPN app for Android devices from services like ExpressVPN. This not only blocks Google, but also your ISP from seeing your location.

To Disable location reporting in iOS:

1. Go to Settings
2. Privacy
3. Location Services
4. Swipe slider off on all apps or select apps you want it disabled (e.g Google Maps)
5. System Services
6. Deny location data from features you want to disable it

Note that with iOS you can’t erase the location history, so you have to log on to a web browser for you to do that. Choose the days you want to delete location history and you’re done.

2. Phishing comes in so many forms.

Bet you’ve probably seen how phishing emails look like, and hopefully it wasn’t successful on whatever its scheming to do. Email phishing disguises itself as a trustworthy organization aiming to gather important information from people who aren’t suspecting. They can disguise to be your bank, a famous brand, Google, and even your phone’s manufacturer!

Even Facebook has had this incident and a lot of accounts in so many countries had been infected. If you suspect your computer or your phone had been infected or hacked through Facebook or any other website, you can run a malware scan and immediately log out from the internet.

Unfortunately, hackers and phishers evolve fast and they are extremely creative. Nonetheless, it’s easy to outsmart them if you know how they really do it. Now, take a look at these examples:

• Pop-up offering quick fixes for your mobile problems. They can show you a result of a quick device scan and will ask you to download or install a malware that is potentially dangerous to your computer and/or the data in it.

• Email disguised to be your bank account asking for more account information. Your bank already has your account number, so there’s no way they’d ask that from you via email. Also, legitimate companies will not ask you to send your personal information through email or text.

• A Facebook message from a friend with a link. Facebook hackers have made it to your friends’ inbox and if your friend unsuspectingly clicks on that link, all the person on their friends list will receive the message as well. This links will slow your computer down or install extensions on your browsers that can gather login information. You wouldn’t notice they installed anything but when you login to your bank, email, or work-related sites using the infected browser, it will send the information to the hacker’s server.

• Emails disguised as customer complaint. High-level executives are the target of “customer complaint” phishers. They can even come up with an official-looking subpoena to make it look legitimate. More often, they are going to ask you to click a link where you will be asked to install a software so you can proceed. They can sometimes also clone your email login page where you will unsuspectingly enter your email login information to proceed.

• Emails disguised as a shipping carrier asking for your personal information. Key here is not to provide your address or any information about you if you can’t confirm you have an order with them. Most carriers don’t really need to confirm shipping information because it is done by their vendor or the company where you purchase your goods from. If you are not expecting any order delivery, better to erase it right away.

• Clone emails. As the term itself defines, this type of phishing clones or copies the exact email sent to you by a legitimate entity (e.g bank) and they also use an email address that looks like that of your bank. If you receive an email regarding a matter that your bank already had informed you with before, please don’t click any link. Instead investigate and verify the email by searching about it. You’re probably not the first to receive that email and the public have already been alerted about it.

• Email from an unknown company about a freebie or a voucher you can claim by clicking a link. Well, it is easy to bait someone using their emotion, but remember, if the offer is too good to be true, it probably is.

• Unsecured website login page. If you are routed to a page where you have to enter login information like username, email, pin, or passwords, always remember to check its security. Websites which as HTTPS and has a lock icon before the web address is safe and secure for you to enter your credentials. If on the other hand, it is only an HTTP or there’s no lock icon, you should be concerned. Also, you can check the website’s security certificate when you click on the lock icon. This helps you know how your data is protected.

Remember that phishing doesn’t only use one medium of communication. It can disguise itself as an unsuspecting text message from your daughter about your credit card information, or it can be through a call. When you receive a phone call from a company XYZ and they are asking personal information about you (including your birthday) that’s already one form of phishing.

There are other ways to prevent phishing and we’ll go through them in the next sections.

3. Never trust your password to anyone, not even your phone.

As mentioned earlier, hackers and phishers have created ingenious ways to install extensions on your browsers with a single click. These extensions are triggered by certain websites, especially those where you enter login information. Although it would be easier for you to keep your passwords saved or “remembered” by your browser, it would be unsafe for you to do that.

Google Chrome, for example, isn’t a secure place to store your passwords. Anyone with access to your browser can keep your login credentials and save it for their own use. Although the hacker has to have physical access to your computer for them to steal your login information, you surely don’t want them to discover something you want to hide or keep for yourself.

Your phone’s browsers are also flawed the same. You can keep your social media logins to yourself if you allow people to use your phone or borrow it. You can stay unsuspecting but better be safe than sorry.

4. Use Password Managers.

If you have way too many passwords for you to remember, you can install a password manager like Lastpass. You need only one master password for the software login and you can keep all of your passwords in there safe and sound.

You can set a two-way authentication as well, so that when you login using a computer, you will need to authenticate it using your phone or another gadget of your choice. There are a lot of free password managers out there, so go get one now!

5. Change your passwords regularly.

Talking about passwords, it is necessary that you change your passwords on a regular basis, especially for those which concern your privacy and your banking logins. Even Apple Pay has its own flaws, so never trust yourself enough to keep these passwords and PIN’s just the same for more than 6 months.

It is advisable that you change your credit card pins on a regular basis to protect yourself from card skimming. If on the other hand, you use your phone to purchase, you need to make sure that your phone is locked enough that when someone steals it, it would be practically useless.

Jailbreaking a phone is something that even a grade-school kid can do nowadays, so to help protect yourself from this kind of disaster, you need to add an extra layer of lock to your phone which we will discuss next.

6. Add an extra layer of lock to your phone.

Adding an extra layer of lock or security to your phone is going to help you not only secure your phone’s private data but it also prevents other people from using your information illegally.

There are a lot of free App Locks you can download from Google Play. With an extra lock installed you can lock certain apps and programs using a 6-digit PIN code and a simple toggle and voila, your Facebook, Gmail, or banking app is safe with another line of security.

Mobile phone manufacturers understand this necessity that’s why they always pack your devices with biometrics such as iris scanner, Face ID, fingerprint scanner, etc. However, no technology is perfect and there are still flaws in the system.

In an iPhone X, for example, your identical twin brother (if you have) can open your phone without any problem. In China, a lot of people had been in an uproar against Apple lately due to its racism in producing iPhone X.

A woman had discovered that her son can unlock her iPhone X and when she got to the store, she was told that there was a problem with the camera. She later discovered that everyone else can actually unlock her phone using their face with no problem and so was every other iPhone X in the store!

This major flaw had been denied by iPhone and of course, they denied the accusation of being racist. This had happened a month later iPhone X was released in the market.

7. Clean your browsers more often (than your house)

Cleaning your browser is as important as cleaning your house. You have to erase your browsing history once in a while if you want to keep your devices safe from hackers.

Although there is a need for any hacker to have physical access to the device (e.g mobile phone), once someone breaks into your computer, they can look at the browser history and use the available data to steal information from you.

It’s easy to clean your browser. If you are using Chrome on your phone:

1. Go to Chrome app
2. Tap More History
3. Tap Clear browsing data
4. Go to Browsing history
5. Uncheck any other boxes you don’t want to delete.
6. Tap Clear data

Clean your browser often and save yourself from dirty trouble in the future.

8. Don’t just click “OK”or “I agree” absentmindedly.

We all know that apps do ask “permissions” to access certain programs on your phone like your contacts, calendar, photos, messaging, notes, etc. By default, all of these programs have their boxes ticked, it’s up to you to uncheck the box next to the program you don’t want the app to have access with.

Limiting the app’s access isn’t going to affect the performance of the app, although there will be features that are to be compromised. Nonetheless, if you don’t want your Facebook, Messenger, Twitter or any other app for that matter have access to data that you think should stay private like Contacts, you can opt out and still be able to use them.

If you want to limit permissions on some apps, here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Settings
2. Apps
3. Device
4. Tap the Gear icon
5. App permissions
6. Toggle slider ON or OFF on apps you want to limit access

In the same way, does some websites ask for permissions. If you have seen websites asking permission to “give you a notification about latest updates” or even asking to “enable cookies“, you better read what exactly they want from you.

By default, you shouldn’t allow them to do just that, and in fact, Google already penalizes websites who don’t let you opt out from these “permissions“. What these “cookies” do is to observe your behaviour when in the internet so they know what ads to suggest.

Amazon does this and so does other e-commerce websites. Google also does this, however, to a much healthier extent. When the information gathered by these cookies are given to the wrong hands, you’ll be spammed and the next thing you know, you’ll have annoying pop-ups every now and then.

If you are using Chrome on your computer, here’s how you change permission on all sites you will visit:

1. On you computer, left click on Chrome
2. Hover your mouse on the top right, click More (it looks like 3 bullets in a line)
3. Click Settings
4. Scroll down and click Advanced at the bottom
5. Under “Privacy and Security” click on Content Settings
6. Change the permission you want to update.

If you are using Android or iOS on your gadget, here’s how you get there:

1. Open Chrome
2. On the top right, click More  (it looks like 3 bullets in a line)
3. Hit Settings
4. Under Advanced, tap Content Settings (iOS) or Site Settings (Android)
5. Tap on the permission you wish to change.
6. Please follow “Recommended” advise from Google Chrome but ideally, you would want the following to be on the corresponding mode:

• Cookies – Removing some cookies may mean that you will be logged out from some websites)
• Camera – Should be on “Always Ask” mode
• Location – “Ask before accessing”
• Microphone – “Ask before accessing”
• Notifications – “Ask before sending”
• Flash – “Ask first”
• Pop-up’s– “Blocked”

For more information regarding Chrome browser settings, you can visit Chrome Support or you can go here for the full tutorial on their support site.

9. Employ 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) for all withdrawals (and on all your online accounts)

One way to also add another level of security to your bank accounts, Paypal, etc. you can add a 2-factor Authentication for all withdrawals. What this do is to provide you a notification on your phone (you bring daily), to authenticate and allow the withdrawal or any transaction.

This will help you to validate and deny the transaction that’s at hand. This keeps your money safe because the hacker has to have a physical access of your phone in order to do the last half of their job.

You can add 2FA on Paypal, WordPress, Evernote, Lastpass, Dropbox, Slack, Amazon, WhatsApp, and on your social media accounts. Google Authenticator is one of the commonly used 2FA apps and it supports a hostful of websites and apps that you want to have extra security. Thankfully, there’s a Google Authenticator app for both Android and Apple.

It’s fairly easy to get the app working. Once downloaded, install the app on your phone and sync your phone and tablet. For a full tutorial on how it’s done on Android or iOS, you can go here.

Apple also has 2-step authentication verification procedures that will notify you of any iCloud access or any app access on your iPhone or Mac. If you want to enable it, here’s how:

On iOS:

1. Go to Settings
2. Sign in on iCloud
3. Tap arrow on Apple ID
4. Tap Password and Security
5. Tap Turn ON Two-factor Authentication

On macOS:

1. Go to System Preferences
2. Sign in on iCloud
3. Click Account details
4. Click Security
5. Click Turn ON Two-Factor Authentication

Microsoft is also on the same league, and it will add more security on your OneDrive, Skype, Xbox Live, etc. If you want to enable 2FA on your, you can look at this tutorial from Microsoft Support for guidance.

Google also has a 2FA capability and they have enabled email alerts by default so you can receive an email about new browser logins. If there’s a login on a new or unrecognized device, Google will let you know about it via email.

10. Check the fidelity of your Social Media accounts.

Your social media accounts are surely going to be a headache once hacked. People can steal your identity or use your private information to blackmail you. But as mentioned earlier, you can enable 2FA on each of your social media accounts to keep them protected.

For mobile-only app or service which do not have 2FA capability, you can enable login verification. Also, if you have logged in any of your social media account on another gadget, you need to remove or “forget” your password on those devices. With SnapChat, you can do this remotely using login verification. You can also generate a Recovery Key or Code for when your mobile device is stolen to protect your social media accounts.

On the other hand, Facebook also have created a way for their users to know whether their account has been hacked. If you haven’t tried this trick yet, here’s how:

1. Go to Settings
2. Click Security and Login
3. Click Where You’re Logged Into
4. You will see your login history’s dates, places, and device used
5. If it wasn’t you, click “Not You”
6. Click Secure Account
7. Click Get Started and Facebook will walk you through the rest of the steps. It includes changing your current password.

If your Facebook account have been hacked you will see suspicious logins that you have not initiated. In order to prevent this from happening again in the future, you need to:

1. Turn log in alerts.
2. Update your password often.
3. Enable 2FA
4. Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if your account is locked out.
5. Be vigilant with friend requests.
6. Don’t click suspicious links.
7. Don’t believe any emails about changing your password or about your account being hacked. You need to login to Facebook first to confirm this because you will receive a notification from them if it is indeed true. It’s a no-no to update your password outside of the Facebook app or web page itself because Facebook will never ask you to do that.

The same rule applies to every other social media account you have. Never assume your account is safe unless you did the extra mile of checking it. The information they can get from your Facebook or other social media accounts is enough to steal your peace and ruin your life.

11. Create A Guest Wifi Network

The struggle of having a connected home is keeping everything safe from thieves. If you have a connected home network, you don’t want anyone else to see or even remotely access your computer or gadget.

This is also one reason why, it is advised that you have a “Guest” Wifi network, so if your friends want to connect to your home Wifi when you hang out, they can do so without compromising your security.

If you have a connected home, it is important to keep all the access only to your trusted gadgets. Letting in an unauthorized mobile phone or laptop to your main Wifi network is dangerous because that means they can access your router’s login page and change the settings.

Whereas if they are connected to the guest network, they will not be able to access your router’s page. Thus, a guest network strengthens your network’s security.

They can get the IP addresses of your home’s main server where you store and share access to your important documents and data. Giving them access to your main Wifi is equal to giving them access to all of your house’s connected devices.

How do you create a Guest Network?

By default, most routers nowadays is already broadcasting a guest network and the main network using unique individual passwords.  The guest Wifi network usually has a “-guest” suffix in the end.  If you want to customize it, which is recommended, you need to know how to access the router’s setup page.

First, know your router’s brand name. The router is the device that transmits the internet connection coming from your modem into wireless signals. It’s practically the source of your Wifi connection.

There are also times when your modem and router is just one box, but if you aren’t sure which is which, you can ask your internet service provider to walk you through.

If you now know your router’s brand name, you can then search how to open it’s setup page, in most cases, all you need is your router’s IP address.

1. Open browser.
2. Enter your Router’s IP address.
3. Enter router’s login information (username and password)
4. Once logged in, look for the keywords Network, Guest Network, or Guest Access and click on it, or
5. Click on “Allow Guest Access”
6. Enter your preferred Wifi name on the SSID box.
7. Enter your preferred Wifi password for your Guest network.
8. Click OK or Finish.

And voila! Your guest network is already setup. If you can’t access your router’s setup page, you might need help from your internet service provider (ISP) or you can call the router’s manufacturer to walk you through.

There are a lot of high-tech routers nowadays and the router that came from your ISP is probably outdated and don’t have the guest network functionality. It is highly recommended you update it to the model that’s best for your family’s needs for wireless connectivity.

12. Install a Firewall on your computer or on your home network.

A firewall is one integral component to a home network. If you are using a cloud server in your home, you want that protected with a Firewall. A firewall can be a physical device or a software you can install.

Your router is one good example of a firewall. When you are connected to the modem, you will be given a public IP address and that is the perfect ingredient towards a hacking disaster. If you are using a public IP address you are like going to a war without an armor and of course, and we don’t want that.

To fully arm yourself, you need a firewall or a device or a software between you and the cruel world of the internet. Instead of using a public IP address, you want to use a private IP address.

The modem gives you a public IP address while the router in the other hand gives you a private IP address. With a router in between your device and the modem, hackers will not be able to get on your network and access your device.

It would be an extra challenge for them to hack your network because they will have to be connected to your private home network first before they can get in and start doing their business.

That being said, it takes your WiFi password for them to be able to steal information. With a well-secured router in your home, your network has better security.

Now, on the other hand, a Firewall could also be a software. You can install a software on your device to prevent it from getting viruses or malwares that can potentially harm the data that’s stored in your computer. These malwares can also be used to steal information from you and even shut your computer down.

If you want the best security for your home network and your devices, you need to have a strong Firewall.

13. Use a VPN to hide your ass.

A VPN or a Virtual Private Network is a medium or a service that serves two purposes:

1. To remotely connect to your company/home computer
2. To safely hide all of the data you transmit over the internet.

The security that VPN offers is best if you want to transmit or access private information over the internet. A VPN encrypts all the information that you use over the internet, so that you browsing history, downloads, etc will not be visible to your internet service provider.

If you are travelling or always on the go, you won’t fear the security threat of using a public WiFi because you can login to your VPN and open your emails securely without feeling like anyone is sniffing on you. Now, you can use the internet and no one will know what you accessed, downloaded, or seen because your internet service provider will not be able to take records of them.

You can hide your ass or your IP address and essentially be able to download via BitTorrent and save yourself from copyright infringement litigation. Just be sure to use a VPN that doesn’t have Europe, US, or Canada as their exit points where these activities are considered illegal.

You can also install a VPN on your mobile gadgets, so if you like the convenience of opening your email or your work CRM‘s using your phone or tablet, you can freely do so securely!

Although it used to be mainly for corporate use, a VPN is also a wonderful add on to your home network because of the security offers. The process is pretty straightforward as downloading an app (mobile) or a software (computer) to make it work.

Next, sign up for the service, you can choose between a paid and a free service, although the latter will probably sacrifice a little privacy from your end as they will feed you with ads according to your browsing behaviour, which is somehow a contradiction of the purpose it serves.

After signing up, be sure to read the EULA (End User License Agreement) because not all VPNs are created equal and you might be compromising an essential feature due to this trifling negligence. There are thousands of VPN service providers and choosing one can get overwhelming, but the top thing to consider is the reason why you are using it.

If security is one of the things you are most concerned of, then getting a VPN should be at the top of your list.

14. Avoid using public Wi-Fi.

As mentioned in the previous item, connecting to a public WiFi is a big no-no when you are trying to open your emails and even your social media accounts because this could potential put your privacy at risk.

If you are always on-the-go or can’t afford the cost of your postpaid service provider you can always have a VPN installed so you can keep yourself secured while on a public WiFi. You can’t expect for the speed to be fast though, as VPN connection uses a lot of data on encrypting your searches and may result to lower speeds.

Also, being on public WiFi means you are trusting the owner whatever information they get from your internet browsing data. If you have trust issues, don’t get yourself on a public WiFi.

Another alternative is to bring an unlocked portable WiFi hotspot which allows you to insert and use any sim from every country all over the globe. With your WiFi hotspot, you don’t need to connect to an unsecured public WiFi plus you can connect multiple devices and surf simultaneously on all these devices.

15. Install manufacturer updates when needed.

Alright, this is one thing that is pretty much done by your phone or computer automatically, however it’s not always like that. For instance, your gadget is probably going to ask your permission to install any updates where you can do later.

Every persistent hacker out there will always find a hole out of every software update and this is why manufacturers continue to produce update even after their flagship is out of the stores. Apple has been consistent in giving software updates for their phones however, Android manufacturers had been notoriously called out because they seem to stop giving updates after a new phone is launched. That doesn’t essentially mean Android is less secure than Apple, but the assurance of a consistent software update even after 2 years of purchase should be a part of your buying conditions.

16. Be careful with the apps you install.

Never ever download an app that is outside the official App Store or Google Play and that means you should only install apps from these places.

As mentioned in the earlier segment, apps ask permissions to get access to your mobile’s data, if you absentmindedly allow these apps to access anything they want to have access to, you just got yourself in to trouble.

The apps you download outside of the official Android and Apple stores are not tested by the software developers for security and they could potentially harm the data on your mobile by installing malwares or stealing vital information from it such as your contacts and calendar. It can even hack your email.

Stay away from sketchy app stores which offer apps you don’t see on the official app stores.

Takeaway

That was a whole lot of information about getting yourself safe in the internet both on mobile and on a computer, but the most important thing there is to remember is to always be vigilant and suspicious of everything you do online.

Be suspicious about the link, be very careful when you download, be vigilant when you grant app permissions, and be wary of suspicious websites. As the golden rule of thumb says, you’re better safe than sorry.

What are the most useful features of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus?

1. Iris scanner
2. Edge Panels
3. Always-On Display

Before, the most problem you can get from a Samsung smartphone is not being able to reach a network, thus, requiring a SIM network unlock PIN. Today, people tend to get lost with the various features and settings that the brand’s flagship smartphones – like Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus – contain.

In the first place, technology is complicated itself. However, we can’t deny the fact that it truly helps us in our daily needs. So, here are a few tips and tricks you can use to master your new Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus – for you to make out the best of this device’s lavish features!

Unlock your phone via your Irises (and add a cartoonish screen mask!)

You may have already heard about this, but indeed it is one great news. Samsung S8 and S8 Plus are introducing us to the iris biometric unlocking feature! The iris scanner is actually a default setting for unlocking the device, however, there’s a twist that you should know – the screen mask. If you are a great fan of Snapchat’s wonderful goofy masks, you will definitely love unlocking your phone with the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus. To go around the setting, you need to:

Navigate the Settings > Lock screen and security > Iris Scanner > Preview screen mask

From there, select the mask and you will be provided with options of cartoonish masks to choose from.

It’s fun, isn’t it? Plus, the speed of the iris scanner is notably fast compared to the fingerprint option. However, it should also be noted that wearing sunglasses or fancy contact lenses would not work with the iris scanner.

Customizing your Edge Panels

Along with the Galaxy duo’s applauded biometric features is its customizable Edge Panels. It is useful especially for quick access to specific apps, messaging people, and keeping up with your tasks. To enable or disable this feature, you may:

Go to Settings > Edge screen > Edge panels > Select ON or OFF

From the Edge panels tab, you will also see three different options. This is where you technically customize your panels for easy access. These includes the App Edge, the People Edge, and the Tasks Edge.

• App Edge – this panel lets you select your top 10 go-to apps
• People Edge – this panel lets you pick 5 important contacts
• Tasks Edge – this panel lets you choose 10 shortcuts for your tasks

After customizing the content of your panels, you also have the liberty to personalize the look of your Edge panels by proceeding to:

Settings > Edge screen > Edge panels > Edge panel handle settings

From there, you may choose the placement of your panel (whether it’s on the left or right side), its size, opacity, and its position.

Using the Always-On Display feature

If you are the type of user who uses a phone for business, you will definitely find the Always-On display feature handy. This feature keeps your phone dimly lit despite it being switched off. From the screen, you will be able to view alerts for SMS, missed calls, and other information that you may find useful. The default display includes the time. However, if you wish to customize it according to your preference, you may:

Settings > Display and Wallpaper > Always On Display

From there, you may choose which content you prefer to appear in the display – whether it’s the Clock, Image, or the Calendar. You can also choose to replace the theme by doing the following steps:

Settings > Themes

Moreover, you can also choose to disable or enable the feature from the Always On Display settings.

Key Takeaway

There you go! These features may only look complicated at first, but they are worth the experimentation. With this, you will definitely have your phone back you up with your daily tasks in guaranteed convenience.

What apps are best when traveling abroad?

1. A travel platform like Klook for the perfect destinations and activities.
2. A travel planner like Google Trips for an organized itinerary.
3. A hotel booking app like Hotels.com for the best hotel deals.
4. A flight booking app like Hopper for the best plane ticket deals.
5. An accurate international weather forecast app like Accuweather.

The “unlock my phone“ tip is the most important advice you will need when traveling abroad. Mainly because it makes communicating with your loved ones easier and cheaper. However, if you are done with that and is still having trouble getting your way through different places as you travel abroad, there may be essential smartphone apps that you have been missing for a while now.

Truth be told that there’s a lot of travel apps that you can find in the app store. However, the plethora of options can be tricky for actual use. Hence, here are 5 ideal apps that are useful and proven effective in making the best out of your next travel abroad.

1. Klook

Klook is a growing travel platform that offers travelers the best deals, activities, and attractions that one can book in the simplest way possible. You just need to type in the place in their website’s search bar – whether that’s Hong Kong, Singapore, or South Korea – and they will immediately turn you over into a page full of all suggestions on how you can enjoy the trip wherever you plan to go. Aside from that, they also have a sidebar which lets you browse base on categories that include the following:

• Attractions and shows
• Tours and sightseeing
• Activities and experiences
• Food and wellness
• Transport services
• Wi-Fi connection

These categories are also divided into more specific activities so it isn’t hard to get the right deals.

What more should you look for? With Klook, you will never waste a single penny on your next travel abroad!

2. Google Trips

If you are a fan of Google products, you will definitely love their travel app named Google Trips. With its aim to create a to-go itinerary for its users that effectively helps them to plan less and see more of their dream destinations, there’s nothing to worry about traveling anymore. You can freely organize your plane tickets and hotel reservations in one place, research the place you are traveling to, and even get free personalized recommendations based on your Google search history. Who would’ve thought traveling could be this easy?

No worries! You don’t need Wi-Fi or data to access your itinerary and your maps. You can download them all to your phone and access them offline. Need we say more?

3. Hotels.com

Hotels.com is one of the most convenient hotel booking app at the app store. It offers users great hotel deals plus all the information you need to book. More so, whether you are using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can easily access the app and site to get the best deals for your next big travel abroad. Furthermore, it also has customer-focus features such as Secret Prices that allows you to get the best, budget-wise hotel deals of all time and Hotels.com Rewards which offers free nights on particular conditions! Who wouldn’t want that?

4.Hopper

Hopper is a flight booking app that offers great deals. It guides its customers on when is the best time to buy plane tickets. No regrets, you will definitely score the best deals yet for your next travel destination.

5. Accuweather

The weather is a significant consideration when traveling, as it can either make or break your travel itinerary. With Accuweather by your side, you will never go wrong with your plans. It gives the most up-to-date weather forecasts – from long-term to at-the-moment type of forecasts on your exact address. A great way to find out whether to bring an umbrella or a sunblock cream, right?

Key Takeaway

Going to a place that’s not familiar to you can be tricky. Though it may be an exciting adventure, hence, it could also be a recipe for a disaster waiting to happen without the right tools. With these apps, you will be able to plan better, organize your destinations, and even get the best deals to further maximize your budget. After all, who wouldn’t want something great for a lesser cost?

Having your T-Mobile device unlocked wouldn’t breach your security. However, it is still important to keep your phone’s behavior tracked in order to avoid unwanted circumstances. Furthermore, keeping up with unfamiliar pop-ups and a slow processing of apps can be very annoying.

What can you do?

If you are not that tech savvy, awareness is definitely the best option you can go for. You can always ask an expert to help you out after you diagnosed your own device. Thus, without further ado, here’s a list of the major red flags of a hacked phone. Beware!

1. Your phone takes up too much data

Some instances of hacking can cause your phone to eat up data faster than the usual. This may be because that particular data is being used to send spam from your phone. More so, this particular type of malware may cause your device’s battery to drain faster than the usual.

Moving forward, the data it steals from your phone is being obtained by the hacker over the Internet.

2. Your phone is encountering frequent lags and becomes sluggish

While it could be a hardware issue that causes your phone to perform sluggishly upon every command, it can also be a malware issue. This may be due to the reason that your phone has obtained a virus infected app, given that it was not directly downloaded from the play store. However, for iOS phones, this may not be the issue. This may be because iOS phones have relatively highly secured operating systems than Android phones.

3. You are receiving unusual charges on your credit card

Today, the most important information can be easily accessed through your phone because of mobile processing of transactions. For one, you may receive unusual charges on your credit card which you know well you did not purchase. This may be a malware downloaded from a fake store that is designed for smartphone hacking. This very issue, among others, should be given appropriate action to avoid further inconvenience.

4. You have new apps installed on your phone that you did not install

One of the few annoying indication that your phone has been hacked is the installation of apps that you know you did not install. Worse, it is a really bad app that does not want to be uninstalled. It will remain re-appearing unless you get rid of the malware that has infected your phone’s operating system.

5. Your phone is trying to access “bad/dangerous” sites

If your phone is hacked, it may try accessing bad or dangerous sites that may harm your system. This may further lead to a damaged, or worse, a dead phone.

Key Takeaway

So what do you do? While some indications may not really harm your phone, it can when left unrepaired. Thus, it is only significant to pay attention to such issues in order to fix a hacked phone and avoid further data leaks that may affect your personal properties such as your bank account. You can scan your phone with an anti-malware app and remove the apps that the malware has installed. You may also restore factory settings in order to wipe off the malware entirely and reinstall your apps after doing so.

However, should the indications continue to appear after fixing it, consult an expert for help.

Whether you are planning an out of the country Christmas vacation, a weekend road trip with friends, or just staying at home for the long weekend – there’s a lot that you can explore and do with your smartphone. It could be changing your carrier with a SIM network unlock PIN, recreating your phone case, or simply making use of an old box as a phone accessory organizer. Honestly, the list could be endless.

With the various resources available in this time and age, millennials (like you) will never have a problem doing simple and easy phone hacks. Here’s a list that you will definitely find exciting and make you wonder, “Why was I not informed about this earlier?”

WHEN TRAVELING

There are tons of phone hacks that can be extremely helpful when you are on an out-of-town vacation or abroad. These hacks may include:

Hack #1: Display contact details on your lock screen

Losing your phone while you are out of town (or country) is probably the worst thing that could happen to you. Not only will it cause you problems when going back to your hotel, but it will also hamper you from communicating with the people you are with. Additionally, it’s hard to not have a phone while you are in a different place – you’d definitely miss out on tons of things.

Hence, in order to at least have your phone back, try typing in your contact details such as your name, your e-mail address, your hotel address, and a friend’s mobile number. Then screenshot it and then set it as your phone wallpaper. This will help you get your phone back in the event that a good Samaritan picks it up.

Hack #2: Make use of OTG disk drives for additional storage

Running out of space on your internal storage is one of the many things that you wouldn’t want to happen while you are traveling, and this goes especially for iPhone users. More so if your only photography tool is your smartphone. Yikes!

But thanks to technology, on-the-go or OTG disk drives are now available on the market. This makes it easier for those who are out of built-in and Cloud storage to save their photos in – thus, saving their vacations from getting ruined. Just plug in an OTG disk drive and you are ready to capture more scenic views from wherever you are in the world.

Hack 3: Use the headphone cord to snap your picture-perfect photos

A terribly awkward experience you wouldn’t want is to find yourself at just the right angle for a picture-perfect selfie only to find that you’re unable to reach the shutter button. What’s even more frustrating is that you are about to take a wide-shot selfie with your group of friends and you just can’t rely on your own arm’s length.

Luckily, there are solutions for this. If you are already familiar with the volume rocker camera trick with smartphones, this is just as the same with the volume buttons on your headphone cord. Plug in your headphone cord and press the volume button. Then, viola! You have captured yet another great photo to remember your travel escapades.

Hack 4: Equip your smartphone with the Disaster Alert app wherever you are

Traveling creates a certain kind of feeling where you’re seemingly detached from the realities of the world – and for those who are only looking for fun, it could be hard to sense danger or impeding disasters.

Thus, to prevent your supposedly fun and stress-free travel tour from turning into a disaster stricken out-of-town, equip your phone with the Disaster Alert App from the app store. It’s free and works regardless of your global location. In addition, it is capable of warning you of any current disasters near you like floods, storms, or earthquakes. You can also look into the details of the disaster including its intensity, and how long it has been active since the alert. It is definitely a necessary app!

Hack #5: Seal your smartphone in a zip bag

Whether you are participating in the Color Run, going to the beach, or taking part in a Hydro music festival, you will certainly need the help of a zip bag to protect the welfare of your smartphone. Otherwise, it will be filled with dirt, sand, or water. These particles will most probably be the cause of your phone’s damage, or worse, its death.

Hack #6: Shoot time lapse videos with your smartphone

Here’s the fun part. Have you ever wondered how those photography dudes create amazing time lapse videos as uploaded on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter? Maybe you are thinking, “They probably have these great, high-tech equipment that’s too expensive to buy.” With this in mind, you’d probably just endure the itch of creating those wonderful videos and settle with static pictures. We do have a secret and yes – we’ll tell you that.

With the variety of video recording, editing, and animation apps today, creating time lapse videos like a pro shouldn’t be too hard. Great apps like Time Lapse Camera for Android and TimeLapse for iPhone can make this possible for you. Just a few tweaks and angling on your preferred shooting spot and you will definitely be able to get the perfect time-lapse which you can also flaunt in your social media accounts. Thrilled? Download the app now!

WHEN AT HOME

Travelling the world with your phone is only as good as having it work just as well as it would at home wherever you may be around the Globe. That’s where a little trick called SIM network unlocking (with a PIN) comes in. It’s as easy as it sounds, too, and the effects are absolutely liberating.

But aside from doing that to change carriers, there are still different ways that you can make use of in order to make the best out of your smartphone. Some of them are the following:

Hack #1: Fuel up your phone through your Smart TV

Staying at home for the weekend can be fun and comfy, especially if you are with the whole family. You can play for hours on your phone with your siblings though eventually, it may drain your battery. When it comes to the outlets, it can be terrifying when none is left for you to plug your charger into. This very instance may even cause ‘sibling wars’ at the moment. So, how can you avoid this?

Most often, people forget about the USB ports that your Smart TV may be hiding. This is a great non-crowded place to plug your charger cable and fuel up your phone. Just don’t forget to turn airplane mode on for extra fast charging.

Hack #2: Increase the efficiency of your phone alarm with a glass

Waking up for a morning jog can be difficult if you tend to sleep past the alarm you have set on your phone. It’s not much use if you don’t wake up, after all. Now, to be able to keep up with your supposedly healthy routine and make sure you get to it, use a bowl or glass for your phone. Put it inside the container and leave it somewhere near you. The bowl or glass can help increase the volume of your phone in the sense that you won’t be able to sleep through it. Good morning, sleepyhead!

Hack #3. Use your cassette tape’s case as a phone stand

We often love to slouch at the couch and endure the numbness of our arms just so as not to interrupt the ongoing Netflix movie or series we’ve been watching for hours. No need to settle for this kind of setup further. We’ve got a great hack for you.

Bring out a cassette tape from your storage box and take the case. Open it and make sure that the tape-holding side faces outwards and the other faces down. Once done, place your smartphone on it and let it lean. Now, you’ve got an instant phone holder!

Hack #4: Your phone a.k.a. a universal remote controller

Losing your remote – whether it’s for the aircon, the TV or the DVD player – may cause you to instantly feel irritated. Even more if you are already tired from work and have already lost patience in looking for it wherever it may be.

This is where your smartphone can come to the rescue. Along with the plethora of apps in the app store plus your high-tech smartphone, it won’t be difficult to instantly turn it into a universal remote control. It’s all a matter of finding the right app. Plus, it can be an advantage when you are fighting with your siblings over the TV, as you’ve already got your weapon to back you up in no time.

Hack #5: Control your computer through your phone

Everyone has their own favorite smartphone hacks, but this could be one of yours if you love to hang out on your laptop and phone. In a simple touch of a button from your phone, you will be able to take control of your computer’s functionalities.

How? Here’s the procedure:

1. Download the Unified Remote app on your phone and its server on your computer.
2. Once both installations are done, run the server on your computer and open the app on your phone.
3. The app will scan for a server on your local network and once it locates the device, it will let you take control of your computer’s functionalities such as power, keyboard, mouse, presentations, and etc.

The app basically consists of a variety of remotes – from basic computer functionalities such as restart, and shut down to app functionalities like VLC, Mozilla, and even Google Presentation. Almost everything is in your hands! Err, phone rather.

Hack #6: Use your phone to conveniently shop online

Whether you are just too lazy or the rain’s just too heavy for you to go out, nothing can help you better when it comes to shopping but phone apps! Not only does it allow you to conveniently choose your preferred item in the comfort of your device, but it also features a whole lot of great deals that you can use in a purchase.

It is still important to be wise when purchasing items online. Always check the reviews before purchasing them. Happy shopping!

Key Takeaway

With these phone hacks, you will never fall behind with your phone – whether that’s activating your SIM network unlock PIN or accessing new camera tricks – the list just goes on and on.

If you have got any other tricks in mind, let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!

Packing for a 3D and 2N travel within the country can be challenging itself, what more for abroad?

For most travelers, traveling to a place or two within the month helped them get through the headache of choosing their essentials to pack. It allowed them to experience just the right amount of trial-and-error, from the trouble of looking for the right jeans to choosing between a book and an e-book reader.

Today, a lot of travelers travel with lesser luggage. How so? Technology served them right. Documents became accessible on all devices, and there’s always an e-book reader to go to for all the right books. The lesser the luggage, the lesser the charges – the more fun it is. As a result, more and more wanderers are opting for these travel technology solutions in order to make their venturing seamless and hassle-free.

For travelers, it is particularly important to know your own tech essentials kit. This way, it will be easier for you to travel smoothly and enjoy the most part of the adventure.

In this article, travel bloggers have shared their very own choices when it comes to packing their go-to gadgets. Find out and see for yourself what could help you best when packing your tech essentials for your first travel abroad!

Travel Blogger 1: Top Picks

Our first travel blogger loves being location independent and funds her travels with freelance editing and writing work. She has been to 29 countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

“As a travel blogger, there are some gadgets that I just can’t leave home when I travel. First, I need my camera. I had a DSLR for almost 10 years, but I finally decided that it was too bulky for me. I bought a mirrorless from Fuji and am loving it. I also have the Supremo action camera. I use it whenever I’m doing something that could pose a danger to my Fuji, whether it’s river rafting or rappelling. I also bring my iPhone with me. It takes great photos as well, and keeps me connected with friends and family. In relation to being connected, I also bring a mobile Wifi device so that I can share photos and check emails whenever I need to. I never leave home as well without my Kindle. I used to bring real books, but when I’m traveling for months, I need more than 1 or 2 books with me. Are all these gadgets absolutely necessary for my adventures? Of course not. I can travel without them and still enjoy myself. However, I always bring these to enhance my experience, because with these five gadgets, I can write about my experiences and share them with my audience.”

Travel Blogger 2: Top Picks

Travel blogger 2 is a passionate food lover. Her blogs mainly features food and restaurants around a particular city she has traveled from. She enjoys discovering new places, and trying out new products, while meeting new friends in between.

Smartphone

“My smartphone is probably the most important gadget I bring during my travels. I can call my family anytime with just a press of a button, and share to them my personal experiences and stories matched with photos and videos.”

Camera

“For best quality photos, I make sure to bring a camera, so that I can share nice pictures on my blog. I always bring my Fujifilm XA2 camera which is very light and convenient to carry around.”

Power bank

“A power bank to make sure I have a backup just in case my battery dies. Wouldn’t want to miss out on great memories and adventures.”

Pocket Wifi

“I also make sure to rent out a pocket wifi when traveling abroad. It’s relatively cheaper and can even be shared among your friends/group.”

Headphones

“Lastly, my headphones/earphones so I can listen to my favorite music without disturbing other people around me.”

Travel Blogger 3: Top Picks

Travel blogger 3 is a Travel Influencer and an IT Business Analyst based in the Philippines.

His interest in traveling started when he was sent by his school to Tokyo at the age of 15 as a reward for performing well in a 3-year Japanese course. This ignited his passion to continue traveling the world at a young age. He loves to try new things as often as he can, eat (Instagram-worthy) food, go on different adventures, and share those escapades to the world through his travel blog. He aspires to see 100 of the best places on earth by 2030.

Mirrorless Camera

“As a travel influencer, my camera is the first item I make sure I won’t forget when going for an adventure. When travelling, I recommend using a mirrorless camera. It takes good professional photos but it’s also compact and not as bulky as a DSLR. I use Fujifilm XT10 35mm for my Instagram photos.”

Smartphone

“In today’s world, smartphones have become an integral part of any travel experience especially now that there is wifi available almost everywhere. I particularly use an iPhone 7 Plus as it also serves as my secondary camera in case my mirrorless cam dies or goes on full memory. Apart from being able to document and post about my trip on Instagram as it happens, my phone has always been my trusted companion to help me get to my destination quickly and safely.”

Power Bank

“My portable charger/power bank has always been a lifesaver for most of my trips. Because I use my phone often for navigation, photos, videos, and posting on my social media accounts, my phone’s battery would run down quickly. Having a power bank with you lets you use your gadgets without having to worry that it won’t be able to serve you all day long (since power sockets are not always available). Choose a power bank that lets you charge your phone 1-3 full cycles; it’s a good investment.”

Universal Adapter

“Packing a universal travel adapter is a must. It’s small and helps you charge your gadgets across the globe without having to worry if the charger fits the power socket. They are perfect for those going to multiple countries on a single trip or even those involving a layover for a quick charge at the airport.”

Travel Apps

“Travel apps make travelling a lot easier and hassle-free. Installing apps that would help you on your trip lets you enjoy and take out the worrying part of going on an adventure. Some of my favorite travel apps include XE Currency (to convert currencies), App in the Air (to track flight status), and Klook (to book discounted tickets of tours and attractions).”

Travel Blogger 4: Top Picks

Travel blogger 4 is a 20-something traveling creative based in Southeast Asia. Born with messy curly/wavy hair, this illustrator/designer has an affinity for pastel colors, minimalist design, and a cup of vanilla ice cream.

“Just like any other traveler, I can’t leave without a smartphone (with travel apps installed and pre-downloaded content), a digital camera, and a laptop because I consider these three gadgets a necessity to navigate, document, and share my adventures with family, friends, and readers. Aside from that, I also bring a power strip with a travel adapter and a power bank with at least 10,000 mAh because electric outlets can be limited—hostels, for example, usually provide one per bunk—or inaccessible when I need it the most.”

“And if I were to pick a favorite, I’d say it would be the power strip because all of my gadgets are fully recharged for the next day’s adventure!”

Travel Blogger 5: Top Picks

Travel blogger 5 has received awards as Best Travel Blog and Best Photo Blog among others in the Philippine Blogging Awards, Best Cebu Blogs, and BlogEx Manila. Now, he envisions his blog to be a service-based website connecting tour companies, organizers, and local guides to travelers. He loves orange, halo-halo, and PowerPoint.

“My kind of travel is more of the comfy vacation type and very rarely do I go backpacking or hiking. So, when it comes to gadgets, I don’t have many. I used to carry an SLR, but realizing that my mobile phone–I have a Huawei Mate 9 is almost as powerful as the bulky cam, I now bank on my phone for anything photography. Great resolution, cool functionalities. It’s always fun to experiment, just stretch your creativity and look beyond your phone as a point and shoot camera.”

“Of course, I bring a mini tripod and a power bank. They’re my essentials. With those, I can already accomplish my travel goals – to capture great photos of the scenery, the hotel or resort, and the food, and record my interviews with the people I meet.”

“While on travel, I also take a lot of notes in Evernote, just so I have all the details when I need to write my stories. I also post a lot of photos on social media real-time. Photo editing apps like Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed are reliable for that task.”

Travel Blogger 6: Top Picks

Travel bloggers 6 went on one big trip that changed  their lives forever. They realized that they didn’t want their trips to have an end date! From then on, they researched and tried various jobs all over the world so that they could keep traveling. On their blog, they share the very best jobs that can earn people money on the road, plus their expert tips and advice, so that people can travel for as long as they want!

“Choosing our top 5 gadgets is easy. Because we’re digital nomads who are travelling or living abroad full-time, there are a few things that we must have with us. Firstly, our MacBook Pro laptops are our livelihood, followed by our iPhones! We also travel with the new DJI Spark drone, which captures great footage for our YouTube channel. Our camera is also very important for photos, but mostly videos. We have a Canon G7X MarkII. Something that we travel with but isn’t an electronic gadget is our Handpresso portable espresso machine (I’m serious!). It’s so handy for when we’re staying in apartments or hotels. All we need is hot water and some coffee grounds. After a few hand pumps, voila, espresso!”

Travel Blogger 7: Top Picks

Travel blogger 7 likes to travel to a different country without bringing a bag.

1. iPhone – Because it has everything I need such as camera for the photos (I can’t say I’m a travel photographer so I’m usually fine with the photo results), music for the long bus rides, alarm clock for my schedule and the notes app, which now serves as my “journal”.
2. My old but still working Sony Cybershot DSC-W610 – My backup in case someone steals my iPhone. And it produces good photos too!
3. Power Bank –  Always comes in handy when you’re out the whole day. Also, I cannot live without music during those long bus rides so my iPhone has to be fully charged all the time.
4. My old Samsung E1086 – again, in case someone steals my iPhone. It has an alarm clock and a working number that automatically switches to roaming mode so I can still get text messages.
5. USB Flash drive – for storing photos and other important files as I don’t like bringing my laptop with me.

Travel Blogger 8: Top Picks

Travel blogger 8 is one of those people who left their comfortable life to travel the world and learn about life. Her style is to stay in one place she likes for 3 months (or more) to know what it feels like to eat, cook, speak and sleep in another culture that isn’t hers. She’d like to believe she’s not traditionally traveling but she just chooses to be somewhere else all the time. Trisha also loves extremely spicy food, pineapples, plants and symmetry. In no particular order, her favourite cities in the world are Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong and Tel Aviv.

Kindle

“As a writer, it has become a habit to read. Traveling or not, I dedicate 2 hours per day to read. It helps me “organize” my mind.”

Camera

“In my line of work, bringing the camera is always a must!”

Headphones

“In the same way as reading can balance the mind, so does music. I really like listening to music especially when I am about to fly in a country. My favourites are the Balkans, Yemenite and Ethiopian music.”

Pen/Notebook

“Wherever I go (even to the supermarket!), I always have a pocket notebook where I can write down all my random thoughts. For me, in order to be a good writer, you must live it. I’m not the best yet but I am trying my best to make it a practice, not just a hobby.”

Phone

“I was about to tell you I only have 4 but I decided to add my mobile phone to the list even if I hate it so much. Unfortunately, it’s a necessity but I’ve deleted it in my list of habits.”

Wrapping It Up

Traveling is definitely among the best things that you can do in life. Not only does it make you feel thrilled and excited from time to time, but also, it helps you collect memories and make your journey in life as memorable as possible.

In order to have the best time of your life for every destination, it’s important to make sure that you have your essential gadgets packed. Aside from helping you take the best pictures of all time, it also helps you to keep your luggage as light and as minimal as possible. A perfect way to worry less and enjoy more of your next big adventure.

Pack your very own tech essentials kit now!

How to choose your next smartphone?

1. Consider the operating system whether it’s iOS, Android, or Windows.
2. Look into the phone’s specifications to determine which suits your needs best.
3. Filter your choices through the phone’s features and choose what’s useful for you.
4. Determine which of your options fits best in your budget range.

The competition in the smartphone industry is getting a lot tougher, with the variety of options from locked to unlocked devices courtesy of T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and smartphone manufacturers who made these magnificent units possible in the market.

However, along with the variety of options that these carriers and brands have offered in the market, the difficulty in choosing the best smartphone for you might be harder than you thought. Hence, we are offering you four effective tips in choosing your next smartphone, which will definitely lead you to your perfect match!

Consider the Operating System

To better choose what you want for your next smartphone, you may consider the three main types of operating system that’s out in the market.

• iOS
• Android
• Windows

Out of all these three, iOS and Android remains to be the majority’s favorites. Mainly because iOS offers convenience, security, and simplicity of its products. Android, on contrary, offers a variety of options for customization. Of course, Windows remains available on your options, in case you prefer a smartphone that is highly integrated with Microsoft products and high-quality camera lenses.

To be able to check on the operating systems further, we recommend that you try a demo device at their stores.

Look into the Specs

For tech savvy people, phone specifications or specs matters most. Practically, this helps them determine which smartphone is best fitted for their lifestyle: whether they are a gamer, a camera enthusiast, or an artist.

Initially, you can assess a smartphone’s specs from these five key factors: processor, RAM, internal storage, battery life, and the camera quality.

• • Processor. Basically, a smartphone’s processor is stated based on the number of cores and the speed in gigahertz (GHz). These numbers indicate how powerful and fast the smartphone will be able to run the games and apps that you prefer to install.

• • Random-access memory (RAM). RAM is measured in gigabytes (GB) and refers to the overall amount of storage the device is capable of multitasking apps. When it comes to RAM, it is true that the higher is better. This comes most necessary if you’re the gamer type of smartphone user as games require more RAM than any other apps.

• • Internal storage. A device’s internal storage, or memory as some would call it, also plays a huge part in preventing app crashes. This also comes in handy if you are the type of user who loves storing music, videos, photos, and other files.

• • Battery life. Today, the maximum battery life of smartphones has increased to 5000mAh, providing a longer time for users to play and chat on their phones.

• Camera quality. Camera quality isn’t an issue today, given that more and more smartphone brands tend to commercialize better, competitive camera lenses. Typically, camera quality is measured in megapixels (MP), and as long as cameras are concerned, the higher the MP, the better. However, if you are keen on the camera details, you may also go further into the specifics such as the aperture, shutter speed, zoom lens, and others.

However, it would be best not to rely on what is written on the paper. In assessing specs, it is still better to try a demo device or go through phone reviews online for real-world assessment.

Filter via Special Features

Once you have narrowed down your preferred units based on their specs, you can also filter them with what particular features they offer. In the first place, this is where these smartphones remain distinct from each other. It may be the phone’s display, screen size, or the body of the handset.

Today, color also matters to consumers including old rose, gold, and matte black variations to name a few. However, given the tough competition when it comes to features, most well-known brands prefer going for functionality over aesthetics. Thus, the rise of waterproof and shock resistant smartphones – from the 2, 2.5, and 3D glass panel displays, wireless charging, Micro SD slots, removable battery, in-cell navigation buttons display, to the continuously innovating fingerprint technologies that people are looking forward to for a while now.

Determine Which Fits Your Budget Range

Of course, you will need to consider the price range in choosing your smartphone as well. Typically, iOS phones are much more expensive than Android phones. This includes Apple’s iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy Edge units at the top of the list. If you prefer, however, a lower cost yet phones that run on Android, you may opt for a HTC, Huawei, LG, or Motorola product.

Don’t rush though, since there are a lot of brands to choose from. In addition, a variety of deals from carriers that you can take into your advantage.

Key Takeaway

As highlighted in these tips, it is truly important that you choose a smartphone that fits your preference, lifestyle, and budget perfectly. Through this, you will be able to find satisfaction on your next smartphone.

How Does the Weather Affect Cellular Connection?

1. Air does not directly affect your cellular connection. However, changes in humidity levels do.
2. Water conducts electricity, and as it does, it reflects radio waves. The water vapor then absorbs the energy from the radio waves and converts it into heat. As a result, it blocks the signal between the cell site and the device.

“I did unlock my phone but why is my connection still bad?” – Most people would look for solutions over a bad cellular connection, but at times, it is better to understand the situation first.

Typically, your connection weakens when you are out in the woods or most especially when the weather is not good. However, how does the weather affect your cellular connection? More so, is it true that a rainy weather is truly bad for your connection?

Here is a brief discussion to help you with.

What is Cellular Connection?

Cellular connection (or cellular signal) is what helps your phone transmit text, photos, and calls to another phone. Basically your device, either it be a smartphone or a basic phone, communicates with a cell site through radio waves. The frequencies may range from 700 to 2,600 MHz and are commonly designated in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band given that it fits in the band’s range of 300 MHz to 3 GHz. More so, this can be identified by through the five bars that are indicated in the upper part of your screen.

Commonly, UHF radio waves travel directly from the source to the receiver, also known as line-of-sight propagation. It is one characteristic that radio waves possess in the process of transmitting data from a device to the receiver. However, as the waves travel in a straight path towards the receiver, often, they are blocked by obstacles such as hills and large infrastructures. This then may cause diffraction, reflection, refraction, or absorption of the radio waves to the materials or atmosphere that it travels to.

Given that there are several radio frequencies available, cell providers are most likely to resolve the issue of obstacles. These cell providers just have to make sure that they do not interfere any of those that are emitted by another cell site.

Most likely, radio waves can travel for about 45 miles away, given that there is a clear line-of-sight – meaning no obstacles, a powered-up cell site, and a great atmosphere condition. However, in reality, the maximum traveling capability of these radio waves is just about 22 miles or less.

Just remember that the farther you are from a cell site, the weaker your cellular connection or signal is.

How Air Affects Your Cellular Connection?

Technically, air does not directly affect your cellular connection. However, changes in humidity levels do.

As you may have known in the above discussion, UHF frequencies’ line-of-sight propagation may only be affected when and if there are obstacles along the path. The air is a simple matter, only when it is not associated with water. However, in cases when rain and lightning strikes, the UHF frequencies may bounce and travel over longer distances. This then may extend the reach of transmission that can cause a weaker cellular connection.

How Water Affects Your Cellular Connection?

Unfortunately, water isn’t good for cellular connections. This is due to the fact that water conducts electricity which may reflect waves. As it does, the water vapor then absorbs the energy from the radio waves and converts it into heat. This blocks the radio waves from traveling between your device and the cell site, which results in a weak cellular connection.

What to Do About It?

Knowing about how weather affects your cellular connection can help you in your daily encounters. An example of which is when traveling. If you know that you are going to a place where there is most likely weaker connection or signal, you can try Googling about the cell sites that are near it. So in case you have an emergency, you’ll know what to do.

More so, you can try switching from an LTE to a 3G connection in situations that you really need to send a quick message to someone. As often times, lower frequency radio waves can travel better in atmospheric conditions that higher frequency radio waves could not work into.

Key Takeaway

 
Cellular connections travel through radio waves in a straight path. With this in mind, it can be concluded that a rainy weather can cause those frequencies to bounce and cause weaker connections.

As the old saying goes, once the genie is out of the bottle, there’s no way to put him back. That’s how creator of the internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has recently stated he feels about the worldwide web which he gifted to the world.

He has warned that the potential for mobile phones and other devices to be tampered with in far reaching and damaging ways is high if proper protection is overlooked. “When people are thinking about the security of their systems, they worry about people discovering what they are doing,” Tim Berners-Lee said. “What they don’t think about is the possibility of things being changed.”

Citing an example, he said: “If you disrupted traffic data to tell everybody that all the roads south of the river are closed, so everybody would go north of the river, that would cause gridlock and disable the city,”

With iPhones and Androids rapidly becoming more advanced, there’s a growing trend in the number of smart phones being hacked, leaving users extremely vulnerable to compromised personal information. But what are the tell-tale signs your mobile phone has been compromised? If you notice any of the following occurrences over the course of a few days, the chances are your device has been hacked or compromised.

1. You have recently noticed your smartphone is slow and clunky

If your mobile feels like your phone is working reluctantly, almost against your will, and is slow, unresponsive, and typing is difficult, it may have become infected with malware. There are a number of free apps out there that can slow down your phone’s performance, and quickly fill the memory on your phone. Review your apps carefully, and if there are any you don’t need, or are not sure about, delete them.

2. You’re sending or receiving unusual text messages

If friends start telling you they are receiving unusual and unwanted text messages from you, or if you are receiving such messages, you could have had a security breach. It’s time to run a reliable anti-malware app to check if there is a problem.

3. New apps have been added to your phone and you didn’t install them

There are several vulnerabilities in operating systems that may let Android or iOS malware escalate privileges and gain the ability to circumvent security features. This can result in apps being installed without your permission. These apps can potentially steal your data, record your calls and text messages. They can even hijack your social-media and online banking sessions. Immediately delete any apps you did not install.

4. The battery is draining much quicker than it used to

Malware chews up battery time as it works on code in the background. If you find your battery draining faster than it used to, check your apps to see how much memory they are consuming. If necessary delete them and install again, or just do without them. A clean fast phone is one that is not overloaded with apps.

5. Certain apps have stopped working properly

When apps that were working perfectly well, start to misbehave, delete them, run a virus and malware check and install again from a trusted third party.

6. Data or text messaging (SMS) is greatly increased but your usage remains the same

You know your monthly data usage, but lately it has been considerably higher than you expected. Beware of text messages that can arrive in your inbox inviting you to click on them. Some of these seemingly innocent texts can charge you for every text you receive, and you can receive several a day, which will massively affect your charges as these are premium rate texts. Delete any texts you do not recognize.

7. Charges you do not recognize are displaying on your phone

Criminals love nothing more than to exploit an infected device. They make expensive overseas phone calls via remote party proxying through your device. They can also send SMS messages to international numbers, or ring up charges in other ways.

8. Your phone has been accessing dodgy sites you never tried to view

Many business mobiles operate on private networks that ban dubious sites of a certain nature such as porn sites or pirated content sites. If you notice that your phone has been trying to access such sites and has been blocked, when you yourself have not attempted to visit them, it is more than likely your phone has been infected, and you should report it to the company’s IT Department before the finger of suspicion falls on you.

9. An acquaintance seems strangely well informed about your schedule/activities

If you feel someone knows more about you than they should, such as what time you will be at a certain venue, or certain comments you have made to other friends, you may be being cyber stalked. This means a piece of malware has been introduced to your phone for the purposes of discovering everything about your personal, and quite possibly your financial life, too. Again, this you need to protect yourself by running anti-virus and malware software from a trusted source. It may also be necessary to go the whole way and restore the phone to factory settings, but make sure you back up valuable information, music and pictures to the cloud before doing so.

10. Your phone number is all a hacker needs

While it is important to take precautions by regularly checking your phone for malware and viruses, it is also worth bearing in mind that all a determined hacker needs to access your phone is your phone number. We are all guilty of giving away our mobile number too freely. How many business cards do you give to little known acquaintances during the course of the day?

Did you know an experienced hacker can use a network interchange service called Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), also known as C7 in the UK or CCSS7 in the USA.

CCSS7 acts as a broker between mobile phone networks. As calls or text messages are made across networks, CCSS7 handles details such as number translation, SMS transfer, billing and other back-end duties that connect one network or caller to another. By gaining access to the CCSS7 system, hackers can track a target’s location based on mobile phone mast triangulation, read their sent and received text messages, and log, record and listen into their phone calls, simply by using their phone number as an identifier. For this reason, it’s important to be extremely careful to whom you give your number.

How do you protect your mobile device when it has also become your mobile bank, your wallet, social network and more?

The truth is, you can never be fully protected, but an awareness of what hackers might try to do, and what happens when they have successfully hacked your phone will give you the awareness to do something about it quickly.

How can you change your service provider if you’re not happy with the service you’re getting?

That’s much easier to answer. Just contact Unlockbase. We have the largest database of mobile phones and service providers internationally. We can quickly, easily and securely unlock your phone and set you free to choose the best provider for your needs.