Device Defender | Phone & Computer Security | GSU

πŸ“± Device Defender

Secure your phone, computer, and data

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GENO
GENO: Your phone knows more about you than your best friend. Let's make sure only YOU can access it.
πŸ” 2FA
πŸ”’ Lock Screen
πŸ‘οΈ Privacy
πŸ’Ύ Backups
πŸ“ Quiz
πŸ”
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
The single most important security step
πŸ›‘οΈ What is 2FA?
Two-Factor Authentication requires TWO things to log in:

1. Something you KNOW (password)
2. Something you HAVE (phone, security key)

Even if hackers steal your password, they can't get in without your second factor!
πŸ“± Types of 2FA (Best to Worst)
πŸ₯‡
Hardware Security Key (YubiKey) - Physical device, nearly unhackable
πŸ₯ˆ
Authenticator App (Google Authenticator, Authy) - 6-digit codes that change every 30 seconds
πŸ₯‰
SMS Text Codes - Better than nothing, but can be intercepted (SIM swapping)
❌
Email Codes - Weakest. If email is hacked, 2FA is useless.
🍎
iPhone Setup
Settings β†’ Your Name β†’ Password & Security β†’ Two-Factor Authentication β†’ Turn On
πŸ€–
Android Setup
Settings β†’ Google β†’ Manage Google Account β†’ Security β†’ 2-Step Verification
⚠️ Enable 2FA on These FIRST
1. Email - Gateway to all other accounts (password resets)
2. Banks & Financial - Your money
3. Social Media - Identity theft
4. Cloud Storage - Your files and photos
πŸ’Ύ Save Your Backup Codes!
When you enable 2FA, you get backup codes. Save them somewhere safe (NOT on your phone). If you lose your phone, these codes are your only way back in.
πŸ”’
Lock Screen Security
Your first line of device defense
πŸ“± Why Lock Screens Matter
If your phone is lost or stolen, the lock screen is ALL that protects:
β€’ Your email and messages
β€’ Your photos and files
β€’ Your banking apps
β€’ Your social media
β€’ Your identity
πŸ” Lock Methods (Most to Least Secure)
πŸ₯‡
6+ digit PIN or Alphanumeric Password - Hardest to crack
πŸ₯ˆ
Biometrics (Face ID / Fingerprint) - Convenient AND secure
πŸ₯‰
4-digit PIN - Better than nothing, but only 10,000 combinations
⚠️
Pattern - Often visible from smudges on screen
❌
Swipe or None - No protection at all!
🚫 Bad PIN Examples
Avoid these (most common PINs):
β€’ 1234, 0000, 1111, 2580
β€’ Birth year (1985, 1990)
β€’ Repeated digits (7777)
β€’ Sequential (1357, 2468)
βš™οΈ Essential Lock Screen Settings
β€’ Auto-lock: 30 seconds to 1 minute max
β€’ Lock after sleep: Immediately
β€’ Failed attempts: Enable data wipe after 10 failed tries
β€’ Notifications: Hide message previews on lock screen
🍎
iPhone: Find My
Settings β†’ Your Name β†’ Find My β†’ Find My iPhone β†’ ON

If lost: icloud.com/find
πŸ€–
Android: Find My Device
Settings β†’ Security β†’ Find My Device β†’ ON

If lost: google.com/android/find
πŸ‘οΈ
Privacy Settings
Control what you share
πŸ” App Permissions to Review
Ask yourself: Does this app REALLY need access to my...

πŸ“ Location - Only when using the app, or never
πŸ“· Camera - Only apps that take photos
🎀 Microphone - Only voice/video apps
πŸ“‡ Contacts - Very few apps actually need this
πŸ“ Files/Photos - Be selective
🍎
iPhone Privacy
Settings β†’ Privacy & Security β†’ Review each category (Location, Camera, etc.)

Settings β†’ Privacy β†’ Tracking β†’ OFF
πŸ€–
Android Privacy
Settings β†’ Privacy β†’ Permission Manager β†’ Review each

Settings β†’ Privacy β†’ Ads β†’ Delete advertising ID
SettingRecommended
Location ServicesPer-app basis, "While Using" only
Ad TrackingOFF / Limited
Analytics/DiagnosticsOFF (stops sending usage data)
BluetoothOFF when not using
WiFi Auto-JoinOFF for public networks
Lock Screen NotificationsHide previews
πŸ—‘οΈ Delete Unused Apps
Every app is a potential security risk. If you haven't used it in 6 months, delete it. You can always reinstall later.

Unused apps can still:
β€’ Collect data in background
β€’ Be targeted by hackers
β€’ Slow down your device
πŸ’Ύ
Backup Your Data
Don't lose everything
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule
3
copies of your data
2
different storage types
1
copy offsite (cloud)
πŸ“± Phone Backup Options
☁️
iCloud (iPhone) - Settings β†’ Your Name β†’ iCloud β†’ iCloud Backup β†’ ON
☁️
Google Drive (Android) - Settings β†’ System β†’ Backup β†’ Back up to Google Drive
πŸ’»
Computer Backup - Connect to PC/Mac and backup via iTunes/Finder or Android File Transfer
πŸ’» Computer Backup Options
🍎
Mac: Time Machine - Automatic hourly backups to external drive
πŸͺŸ
Windows: File History - Settings β†’ Update & Security β†’ Backup
☁️
Cloud Services - Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud
πŸ’Ώ
External Drive - Weekly full backup to USB/external SSD
🦠 Ransomware Protection
Ransomware encrypts ALL your files and demands payment. If you have backups, you can wipe your device and restore without paying.

⚠️ Keep at least one backup DISCONNECTED (offline). Ransomware can encrypt connected backup drives too!
πŸ“… Backup Schedule
β€’ Phone: Automatic daily (cloud)
β€’ Computer: Automatic continuous (Time Machine/File History)
β€’ External Drive: Weekly manual backup
β€’ Test restores: Quarterly (make sure backups actually work!)
πŸ“± Device Defender Quiz
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