How Can I Safeguard My Phone from Spam Calls and Other Threats?

Avoid clicking on links or responding to texts from banks or other sensitive places. If you get a message that looks suspicious, call the number on your bank card directly instead of the one provided in the message. Treat your phone like a wallet—never let anyone rifle through it. Use unique passwords that don’t include personal details, and consider a password manager for extra security.

Those spam calls are usually just checking if your number is active. They’re not able to do anything just from calling you, so you don’t need to worry too much on that front.

To keep your phone secure, make sure to keep the software updated regularly. When it's time for an upgrade, consider getting a new phone—it's better than risking your personal information. Lock your phone down with a fingerprint and a strong password that you don’t use anywhere else. Also, enable features like 'Find My Phone', encryption, and remote wipe just in case. When you stop using an old phone, be sure to do a secure wipe.

Another simple tip: don't install apps that seem unnecessary or come from dubious sources. Keep your app store curated to only what you trust.

When you get one of those silent calls, it's often an AI trying to verify that your number is real. Just hang up without saying anything.

And just to be safe, don’t pick up calls from numbers you don't recognize; they can leave a message if it's important.