Device Defender | Phone & Computer Security | GSU

📱 Device Defender

Secure your phone, computer, and data

0
Score
0/4
Modules
0
Settings Fixed
GENO
GENO: Your phone knows more about you than your best friend. Let's make sure only YOU can access it.
🔐 2FA
🔒 Lock Screen
👁️ Privacy
💾 Backups
📝 Quiz
🔐
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
The single most important security step
🛡️ 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!
📱 Types of 2FA (Best to Worst)
🥇
Hardware Security Key (YubiKey) - Physical device, nearly unhackable
🥈
Authenticator App (Google Authenticator, Authy) - 6-digit codes that change every 30 seconds
🥉
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 → Your Name → Password & Security → Two-Factor Authentication → Turn On
🤖
Android Setup
Settings → Google → Manage Google Account → Security → 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
💾 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.
🔒
Lock Screen Security
Your first line of device defense
📱 Why Lock Screens Matter
If your phone is lost or stolen, the lock screen is ALL that protects:
• Your email and messages
• Your photos and files
• Your banking apps
• Your social media
• Your identity
🔐 Lock Methods (Most to Least Secure)
🥇
6+ digit PIN or Alphanumeric Password - Hardest to crack
🥈
Biometrics (Face ID / Fingerprint) - Convenient AND secure
🥉
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):
• 1234, 0000, 1111, 2580
• Birth year (1985, 1990)
• Repeated digits (7777)
• Sequential (1357, 2468)
⚙️ Essential Lock Screen Settings
Auto-lock: 30 seconds to 1 minute max
Lock after sleep: Immediately
Failed attempts: Enable data wipe after 10 failed tries
Notifications: Hide message previews on lock screen
🍎
iPhone: Find My
Settings → Your Name → Find My → Find My iPhone → ON

If lost: icloud.com/find
🤖
Android: Find My Device
Settings → Security → Find My Device → ON

If lost: google.com/android/find
👁️
Privacy Settings
Control what you share
🔍 App Permissions to Review
Ask yourself: Does this app REALLY need access to my...

📍 Location - Only when using the app, or never
📷 Camera - Only apps that take photos
🎤 Microphone - Only voice/video apps
📇 Contacts - Very few apps actually need this
📁 Files/Photos - Be selective
🍎
iPhone Privacy
Settings → Privacy & Security → Review each category (Location, Camera, etc.)

Settings → Privacy → Tracking → OFF
🤖
Android Privacy
Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager → Review each

Settings → Privacy → Ads → 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
🗑️ 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:
• Collect data in background
• Be targeted by hackers
• Slow down your device
💾
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)
📱 Phone Backup Options
☁️
iCloud (iPhone) - Settings → Your Name → iCloud → iCloud Backup → ON
☁️
Google Drive (Android) - Settings → System → Backup → Back up to Google Drive
💻
Computer Backup - Connect to PC/Mac and backup via iTunes/Finder or Android File Transfer
💻 Computer Backup Options
🍎
Mac: Time Machine - Automatic hourly backups to external drive
🪟
Windows: File History - Settings → Update & Security → Backup
☁️
Cloud Services - Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud
💿
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!
📅 Backup Schedule
Phone: Automatic daily (cloud)
Computer: Automatic continuous (Time Machine/File History)
External Drive: Weekly manual backup
Test restores: Quarterly (make sure backups actually work!)
📱 Device Defender Quiz
🔐
📱
🛡️
GENO

GENO

GSU Education Guide • AI Powered

Ask me anything about GSU