A lot of people bought smartphones when they first appeared because they were more convenient for social media or because they looked cool. What they don’t realize is that, in their very pocket, they have a device with several times the machine's computing power that sent the first man to the moon.
With that in mind and to rectify this flaw, here are the top six ways you’re still underusing your phone’s full potential.
1. Not using VPN and antivirus on your smartphone
A thing you need to understand is the fact that the division by operative systems is no longer as sharp as it once was. A lot of people, however, still have so many prejudices.
For instance, they assume that it will take longer for a page to load when they’re accessing it via their mobile browser. Not only is this no longer true, but the number of sites that go mobile-first is increasing at an astounding pace.
The biggest prejudice, however, is the idea that some apps (primarily VPNs and antivirus software) are just for PCs.
This is simply not true.
You can easily find a good Android VPN and bypass any geo-restrictions, as well as provide your device with additional protection. You need it more on your phone, since you are probably watching streaming services there, as well as logging in via unknown networks.
Similarly, you’re definitely more exposed via your phone than you are via your desktop computer (it is on one home network), but you only have an antivirus on the latter. Why is that?
2. Not taking cybersecurity seriously
There are so many ways to protect your phone, even in a scenario where it gets stolen or misplaced.
First of all, you can rely on biometrics. A fingerprint or a scan of your retina is a pretty efficient way to unlock your phone. Sure, in the past, there were a few problems regarding exploits (a cardboard cutout of the face passing the face-scan test, etc.), but these are quickly fixed. With modern OCR, this should no longer be that big of an issue.
Even when just choosing a pattern, you can always go with a complex one. Why just connect four dots and make it easily guessable to someone who’s just observing you from the side?
Pick a good password. By good, we mean random, long, and containing different types of characters. This is really the attitude you should have every time you pick a password, not just on your phone.
Lastly, you should always have two-factor authentication. This gives you an extra layer of protection that you will end up being thankful for. It also takes just a few seconds to turn on.
3. Ignoring software updates
Sure, the software update button is annoying, and the notification can be up there for days. A lot of people just hate the idea of having to restart their phone (they haven’t done it in days), and they just can’t be bothered to do it.
There are two major problems with this (and a wide array of minor problems). The first one is the fact that software that’s behind on an update might not work properly. Sure, one or two patches may not make that big of a difference in performance, but after skipping a few, you might enter the area where the developers are no longer covering this legacy program.
Second, you’re exposing yourself to all sorts of cybersecurity threats. There’s a reason why zero-day protection is such a strong phrase in the cybersecurity industry. Still, its protection only applies if you follow up with all the updates.
4. Not backing up data and using cloud storage
Your phone can be stolen or broken easier than you think. In that scenario, you’re losing a valuable asset, but you’re also losing a ton of content that you’ve amassed over the course of years.
The problem with these incidents is that there’s no warning. It’s not like your phone will start misbehaving or slowing down, so you’ll get enoguh time to back up your data before the disaster. It can be stolen at any point and if you drop it from high enough (or into water), it is done for, regardless of if you’ve just got it out from the store.
No, dipping it into rice will not help.
You need to ensure your phone is always synced up with your cloud data storage. This way, whenever something happens, you’ll at least have your data secured.
It doesn’t even have to be private data; it’s even worse when it’s used professionally.
5. Still using 3G
There are a lot of people who are still using 3G. In fact, the number of people who are still not ready to abandon this network is surprisingly large. Seeing as how most telecommunication providers are shutting down this network, switching this number of people to a new network is a gargantuan strain on their infrastructure.
For some, it was the fact that they were still using old devices (that don’t support 4G or 5G), while others either didn’t use that much internet or were concerned with the fact that this might be more expensive.
None of it is true. In reality, 4G is superior in every way possible; it’s not that much more expensive, and you’re using more data than you think. Most importantly, basic smartphone devices that can actually run 4G can be so inexpensive. They don’t even have to be refurbished. They don’t even have to be budget brands. Just don’t buy the Samsung S series; go with the A or J series instead.
While it’s not an excuse, the only explanation is a lack of awareness.
6. Not utilizing eSIM instead of changing cards
People who often travel abroad use local SIM cards in order not to waste a fortune on roaming.
The way this works is simple: when you go abroad, your own mobile service provider still wants to give you the internet (so that they can charge you), but they don’t have the infrastructure abroad. So, they buy the service from the local provider and resell it to you. Naturally, they want to make a profit, which is why they pass down the difference in price (and their profit) to the consumer.
The best way to avoid this is just to buy a local SIM card. The logic is, if you’re already using their internet, why not just pay the original price and cut the intermediary?
The problem is that replacing SIM cards is annoying, and if you’re not just traveling between two locations, the management can be difficult.
An eSIM, on the other hand, is a card that you insert, and then you can pick your location (from a list). It’s a digital version of replacing a SIM card, it’s handy, and it saves you a lot of money.
Recognizing the potential behind your phone can be life-changing
Your phone can do so many things, but all these advantages don’t matter unless you’re aware of them. Knowing your phone can do something, and not doing it anyway is a choice. Not knowing that you even have these options is a massive wasted potential. So, do some research and inquire about all the other great things you’re missing out on.
