NSA says iPhone and Android users should take this step to protect their phone – WSB-TV Channel 2

The National Security Agency, in a document detailing best practices for mobile devices, suggests that owners of cell phones turn them off at least once a week to protect them from people who want to collect data from the device.

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“Threats to mobile devices are becoming more widespread, increasing in scope and complexity,” the NSA said, warning that some smartphone features “provide convenience and capability, but at the expense of security.”

In a document outlining several best practices for mobile devices, the agency suggests that at least once a week the device be turned off completely, rather than just put on standby, Forbes reports.

According to the NSA, turning it off and on again once a week can protect against certain zero-click exploits that attackers often use to eavesdrop and harvest data from phones.

A zero-click attack is a type of cyber attack that does not require user interaction. According to NordVPN, an attacker can gain access to a device or network without the user having to click any link or download any file.

By turning your phone off and on again, you can reduce the risk of spear-phishing, which can lead to the installation of even more malware and spyware.

The document also recommends iPhone users turn off Bluetooth when they’re not using it, turn off location services when they’re not needed, and update their device as soon as OS and app updates become available.