We like to say the internet is no longer a kind and friendly place. Security specialists fight every day an ever changing threat landscape, and you, as the users, see this by stronger, more complicated security requirements.
But what if I told you to boost your mobile phone security all you need to do is reboot?
That is exactly what the NSA recommends.
But why?
The specifics are a little complicated, but rebooting your mobile device clears the devices “short-term” memory. Some threats will hide in this memory because it is difficult to detect programs that only reside there. The reboot interrupts these programs, and their operations cease.
Obviously, this is not a solution to all threats, but it is a very simple way to stop many.
How often should I reboot?
Well, as often as you possibly can. But a good measure is about once a week.
The NSA stated in their advisory, “Regularly restarting your mobile device can help ensure that any malicious code running in the background is terminated. This simple action can significantly reduce the risk of persistent malware infections.”
In addition to regular reboots, you should also incorporate other best practices for security, such as enabling and using MFA anywhere possible, keeping your devices operating systems and applications up to date, and using strong passwords.