Shoulder Surfing is a form of visual hacking where the
fraudster leans over the victim’s shoulder to look at the content of the mobile
device screen while the victim is typing their PINs, Passwords, Bank details or
any personal information. Personally, one has to be careful and should take
precautionary measures to prevent falling victim to mobile fraud. The following
are tips on how to protect yourself from mobile fraud shoulder surfing:
1. Use a Privacy Screen Protector
Some of the easiest preventive measures include the use of a
privacy screen protector to avoid cases of shoulder surfing. This specialized
screen reduces the chances of other people seeing what you are typing since
they cannot view your screen from the sides. There are privacy filter screen
guards available for most smartphones, tablets, and laptops, and they are quite
effective especially in areas filled with people.
2. Be Mindful of Your Surroundings
It is a good strategy to take your time, look around,
especially when using your mobile device in public. Never input your passwords
or other sensitive information if other people are around or if someone is
behind you. However, you are advised to find a private location and continue
using the device without any eyes on you.
3. Enable Biometric Authentication
Many devices protect the user’s ID by using fingerprint
scanners or face ID, whereas giving the device extra security. Your biometric
data ensures that even if someone sneaks behind you to see the passcode or PIN
you have entered, they will not be able to unlock the device. It is easily
implemented on most of the contemporary smart phones and it is very effective
in preventing unauthorized access.
4. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Writing good, special passwords for your applications, profiles,
and gadgets is a must. Do not use common number sequences like “123456” and do
not use dates of birth or part of it. Use both letters in both cases, digits,
and symbols into your passwords. Having a strong password lowers the chances of
someone memorizing your credentials when they are shoulder surfing.
5. Activate Auto-Lock and Timeout Features
Auto-lock and screen timeout are capabilities that make a
device lock by itself after a given amount of time of inactivity. Configure
these settings to the shortest time, for instance 30 seconds, in case you fail
to lock the device in cases of forgetfulness. This measure makes it impossible
for anyone who might attempt to use your device to get any meaningful
information due to the limited time they would have.
6. Invest in Anti-Spy Software
There are applications and software specifically developed
to counter shoulder surfing. These tools are able to utilize your device’s
camera to notify you of someone looking over your shoulder or obscure the
relevant data when a threat is identified. Well, anti-spy apps are yet another
great tool that you can adopt in the fight against hackers and malware.
7. Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Given here are some risks associated with using public
networks that make them a playground for hackers. If you use unsecured Wi-Fi,
your data is exposed to possible interception than if you were to connect to a
secure channel. When coupled with shoulder surfing, this means that your valuable
information is up for the taking. If you have to connect to public Wi-Fi,
ensure that you connect using a VPN to secure your connection and that data is
encrypted.
8. Position Yourself Strategically
Whenever possible, position yourself to have your back
toward a wall or any other physical barrier. This positioning reduces the
possibility of someone peeping at the content displayed on your gadget screen.
Also, do not sit in areas where people can easily look at your back and be
tempted to bend down to observe what you are doing.
9. Allow Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a much safer way of
logging into the account because it asks you for a special sort of password
after entering the password. If a passerby looks at your credentials, they will
not be able to get into your account since there is another verification code,
mostly sent to the phone or email.
10. Be Discreet When Typing Sensitive Information
For instance, if you are typing in your PIN or password,
ensure that your hand is placed in a manner that will cover the screen or the
keyboard. This can help ensure that those around you do not get to see
something that you are typing on the keyboard. Finally, one should think about
using hand gestures or pattern-based locks which are way more difficult to
eyebrow and reproduce than simple number codes.
Conclusion
Mobile Fraud Shoulder Surfing is a form of identity theft
and even though it is considered primitive compared to other threats, it can
have very serious repercussions if you are a victim. Following the above
insights into the 10 effective strategies, it is possible to minimize the
chance of being affected by mobile fraud. Privacy screen protectors that limit
the viewing angle, unlocking via fingerprints or facial recognition, awareness
of your surroundings, and using two-factor authentication are all about being
proactive when it comes to protecting your data. In the globalized era when
identity and monetary details are cherished assets, knowledge of how to
safeguard one is not a mere precaution – it is indispensable.
