If you lose phone

flaneurs_lobster

km1500 said:

if you have a Samsung phone put your banking, email app etc in the secure folder

For ultimate security, rename the secure folder to "Coffee". That'll fool 'em. 

km1500

yes that is sadly true what the app needs is a fingerprint access similar to a banking app

Bob_Uppendown

wmb194 said:

gadget88 said:

I recently read someone was done out of money with one of the smaller online banks. If your phone is stolen and someone gets is your money protected? Had mine stolen this summer but was luckily I blocked my card quickly but I worry any savings could be at risk if they guess your password?

If you're really worried about it have two phones: one for going out that doesn't have any/many bank apps on it and another that doesn't leave the house with all your bank apps and 2FA authenticators on it.

This is what I do. 

I have an old "dumb" phone with a PAYG SIM, which I only use to receive OTP texts. 

macy08

km1500 said:

the main things to do are 

put a PIN on your SIM so that if it is taken out and put in a different phone it cannot be used 

use biometrics on your screen lock rather than a pin or pattern because this means you can't be shoulder surfed 

obviously use a different unique pin for your banking apps although again most banking apps allow biometrics 

as above make sure sensitive notification content (eg otps) is not displayed on your lock screen

have a serious think about if you need to have all those banking apps etc on your mobile maybe just one will do. access the other via mobile that never leaves the house or desktop or whatever if possible. 

the weak point is your email as this cannot be protected by a pin or biometrics - I'm talking about Gmail and outlook here. There may be of course other ones that can be. my recommendation is to turn off 2fa and use a very strong password that cannot be broken. the reason is if you lose your phone for example then you have lost the 2fa device and cannot login to email on your laptop or replacement phone without a lot of hassle

finally when you use the phone to, take photos then open the camera by double pressing the power button or whatever so the phone is not unlocked if anyone grabs it

For reference you can lock Outlook with pin/biometrics which is what I have done.

If your phone is more modern and your network allows you also have the option to get rid of the physical SIM and use an eSIM which is hard coded to your phone - no way for thieves to put it in another phone to get the text messages.

400ixl

km1500 said:

yes that is sadly true what the app needs is a fingerprint access similar to a banking app

Which is exactly what you get when it is implemented properly in Android 15. It also has theft detection functionality now.

Secure the phone and apps in the right way and don't use ones which only allow week 2FA like SMS and you can avoid most of the issues in this thread.

Emily_Joy

gadget88 said:

I recently read someone was done out of money with one of the smaller online banks. If your phone is stolen and someone gets is your money protected? Had mine stolen this summer but was luckily I blocked my card quickly but I worry any savings could be at risk if they guess your password?

I simply keep the phone that has SIM card with the number that I give to banks at home. Online banking I do either in browser on a Desktop or on an iPad. iPad never leaves the house.

Rob5342

With Monzo you can set it so that payments over an amount you specify need and additional verification method that you can specify. I have mine set so that payments over £300 either need to be done when my phone is at my home addreas or have to be verified by my wife in her Monzo app. Nothing can ever be foolproof but that adds an extra layer of security. 

km1500

400ixl said:

km1500 said:

yes that is sadly true what the app needs is a fingerprint access similar to a banking app

Which is exactly what you get when it is implemented properly in Android 15. It also has theft detection functionality now.

Secure the phone and apps in the right way and don't use ones which only allow week 2FA like SMS and you can avoid most of the issues in this thread.

are you saying outlook and Gmail apps have biometric security in Android 15? that is good news

km1500

macy08 said:

km1500 said:

the main things to do are 

put a PIN on your SIM so that if it is taken out and put in a different phone it cannot be used 

use biometrics on your screen lock rather than a pin or pattern because this means you can't be shoulder surfed 

obviously use a different unique pin for your banking apps although again most banking apps allow biometrics 

as above make sure sensitive notification content (eg otps) is not displayed on your lock screen

have a serious think about if you need to have all those banking apps etc on your mobile maybe just one will do. access the other via mobile that never leaves the house or desktop or whatever if possible. 

the weak point is your email as this cannot be protected by a pin or biometrics - I'm talking about Gmail and outlook here. There may be of course other ones that can be. my recommendation is to turn off 2fa and use a very strong password that cannot be broken. the reason is if you lose your phone for example then you have lost the 2fa device and cannot login to email on your laptop or replacement phone without a lot of hassle

finally when you use the phone to, take photos then open the camera by double pressing the power button or whatever so the phone is not unlocked if anyone grabs it

For reference you can lock Outlook with pin/biometrics which is what I have done.

If your phone is more modern and your network allows you also have the option to get rid of the physical SIM and use an eSIM which is hard coded to your phone - no way for thieves to put it in another phone to get the text messages.

I have been unable to find biometric locking on outlook app could you let me know where I would like to enable it. Thanks

GeoffTF

km1500 said:

400ixl said:

km1500 said:

yes that is sadly true what the app needs is a fingerprint access similar to a banking app

Which is exactly what you get when it is implemented properly in Android 15. It also has theft detection functionality now.

Secure the phone and apps in the right way and don't use ones which only allow week 2FA like SMS and you can avoid most of the issues in this thread.

are you saying outlook and Gmail apps have biometric security in Android 15? that is good news

You can get Fido 2 hardware security keys with finger print readers, but they are expensive.