A few basic habits keep your phone and your information secure. None of them are complicated.

1. Lock your screen. A screen lock means that if your phone is lost or stolen, no one can open it. Set one up in Settings, then Face ID/Touch ID and Passcode (iPhone) or Settings, then Security (Android). Choose a 6-digit passcode and, if offered, turn on Face or fingerprint unlock so getting in is quick for you but locked for everyone else. The FTC recommends a screen lock as a basic protection.

2. Keep the phone updated. Updates fix security holes, so they protect you. When your phone offers a software update, let it install (usually overnight while charging). On iPhone: Settings, then General, then Software Update. On Android: Settings, then System, then Software update.

3. Only install apps from the official store. Get apps only from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Never install an app from a link in a text, email, or ad; those can be fake and harmful.

4. Do not tap links or codes from strangers. A text saying your “account is locked” or a “package is waiting,” with a link, is often a scam. Do not tap. Never share a one-time code that arrives by text.

A quick example. A text says “Your phone has a virus, tap here to fix it.” You know now that real fixes never come from a random text. You do not tap; you delete it. Your phone was never in danger, and you kept it that way.

What to do:

• Set a 6-digit passcode plus Face or fingerprint unlock.
• Let software updates install (overnight while charging is easiest).
• Install apps only from the App Store or Google Play, and never tap links from strangers.