Technology and education now go together more closely than ever, with laptops and tablets now regular sights in classrooms. The range of educational apps in both the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store is huge and growing all the time, and the cloud has made it possible to learn across multiple devices with ease.
And yet, with such progress inevitably comes a downside. With all that extra work being created and stored on our phones and tablets, we have to think carefully about security issues. While your science project might not be the prize a hacker is after, losing it means more than just the inconvenience of setting up a new device – it could set your grades back. Here are a few simple steps to stay safe.
Stay Safe on Social Media
Much to the annoyance of many a teacher, students love social media. Yet it’s also one of the most common ways to pick up malware, as Twitter and Facebook are full of spam accounts posting seemingly innocuous links to, say, pictures of the latest pop star – which of course come with added malware when clicked. It can be difficult to know what to click on, but it’s generally wise to stick to your friends’ posts, and avoid shortened links where you can’t see the name of the website. Also, it’s good to report spam when you see it, to help rid social networks of this growing problem.
Retrieve Your Lost Phone
Norton Mobile Security offers you the ability to track your misplaced phone, and make sure that no one else gets to your data before you do. Make sure these features are set up and working when you first set up your device. Then, should your phone go missing, you can track it in a browser or via another device, make it ring to see if it’s nearby, and even remotely lock or wipe the device if you’re sure it’s not recoverable.
Install Security Software
Apple’s tight controls on what gets into the iOS App Store makes it satisfyingly tough to stumble across malware, but the Google Play Store is a more open and risky environment. Besides sticking to apps from brands and developers you’ve heard of, and looking for a decent number of positive reviews before downloading, you can also safeguard your phone with security software, like Norton Mobile Security, or Norton 360 Multi-Device, which works on all of your devices and computer, and provides an extra layer of protection against malware and viruses. You can also install Norton Halt for Android, a free app to help you scan your device for vulnerabilities and viruses.
It can seem daunting when you see what threats are out there, but with a bit of common sense and the right software, students can stay safe in even the most connected of classrooms.