More and more people are being affected: Intelligence service warns smartphone users

Modern smartphones have become an integral part of everyday life, carrying both personal data and access to important accounts.

According to the US National Security Agency (NSA), this constant online state makes them vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks.

In an internal advisory, the NSA suggests a surprisingly simple solution that all smartphone users can use.

Turn off and restart your phone regularly.

According to the document, a weekly reboot can prevent certain types of malware from gaining a foothold.

These include spear-phishing attacks, where hackers target specific individuals, and zero-click exploits, where devices are compromised without the user having to press anything.

A weapon against covert attacks

Restarting the phone removes temporary processes and connections that malicious programs can exploit.

According to the NSA, in many cases this prevents malware from being installed or activated.

Many of the threats circulating today no longer require active action from the user, which is why automated protection steps, including simple reboots, have become important.

This is especially relevant for so-called zero-click attacks, which often exploit weaknesses in the system and cannot be detected through normal user behavior.

In some cases, a manual reboot can interrupt the process and protect against infiltration.

More simple tips for better mobile protection

In addition to the weekly reboot, the NSA highlights several other tips that can increase security.

Users are advised to install updates quickly, disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use, and avoid tapping on unexpected pop-up messages, especially those that ask to install something.

A strong PIN code of at least six digits is also recommended.

For people in sensitive positions, the NSA mentions additional measures, such as covering the camera and using cell phone covers with built-in microphone protection to avoid potential eavesdropping.

However, this advice is primarily intended for professional users, while the main message to the general public is simple: Restart your phone.