Why the NSA Is Right About Periodically Restarting Your Smartphone
Why does the NSA recommend turning off and restarting your smartphone weekly?
The NSA recommends turning off and restarting your smartphone weekly as a simple method to enhance security and protect your device from hackers. By powering your device off and back on, you can potentially reduce the effectiveness of "zero-click" exploits and malware delivered through spearphishing attacks. Although it is not a foolproof solution, regularly restarting your phone can make it more difficult for hackers to maintain access and steal data from your device3. This practice forces any in-memory payloads, which rely on the device's memory to operate, to be removed as the memory is cleared during the restart process. As a result, hackers would need to reinitiate their attacks, making it more costly and time-consuming for them to target your device.
Which smartphone models are mentioned as having built-in functionality for periodic restarts?
The smartphone models mentioned as having built-in functionality for periodic restarts are Samsung's Galaxy devices and the latest OnePlus devices. Additionally, Google Pixel devices don't have a scheduled offering, but they do have an option to automatically restart once they receive an over-the-air (OTA) software update. iOS users can also create an Automation to restart their iPhone every few days.
What specific advice does the NSA give regarding smartphone security in their uncovered document?
The NSA's uncovered document on smartphone security includes several best practices to keep phones safe from digital threats. Some of the key recommendations are:
-
Turn off your smartphone completely at least once a week, not just putting it in standby mode. This can help protect against zero-click exploits and reduce the risk of spear-phishing, which can lead to the installation of malware and spyware.
-
Disable Bluetooth when not in use, as it can be a potential entry point for attackers.
-
Update the device as soon as possible when operating system and application updates become available. These updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities.
-
Disable location services when not needed, as they can provide information about your whereabouts to potential attackers.
-
Use strong, unique passwords for each account and consider using biometrics for added security.
-
Avoid opening email attachments and links, even when the sender appears legitimate, as they can contain malicious content.
-
Be cautious of social engineering tactics, such as responding to unsolicited emails or messages, as they can lead to account compromise and identity theft.
-
Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks and charging stations, as they can potentially be compromised by cyber actors.
While these recommendations may not guarantee complete protection against all threats, they do provide a good baseline for users to enhance their smartphone security and reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber attacks.