Maintaining a smartphone’s peak performance involves more effort than many realize. These versatile devices need consistent maintenance and updates to fend off damage and security threats.
Shutting Down Your Phone as a Defense Mechanism
One surprisingly effective way to protect your phone is to switch it off completely from time to time. The NSA advises that doing this helps prevent hacking attempts, including the increasingly prevalent zero-click exploits. Unlike conventional threats that require you to click malicious links, zero-click exploits can breach your phone’s defenses without any user interaction.
This form of hacking typically starts with something as unnoticeable as a missed call and then installs files that gradually grant the attacker access to your data. Regularly turning your phone off disrupts this process and keeps your device safer.
Why Weekly Reboots Matter
Security experts suggest powering off your phone at least once a week, which not only helps guard against hacks but also keeps your operating system running smoothly. Regular reboots eliminate software glitches and optimize overall performance. To check your phone’s uptime, head to your system settings—on most Android devices, this can be found under “Device” and then “Status.”