The simple security check all iPhone and Android users should do immediately

Everyone with an Android or iPhone is being urged to check the security of their devices amid a wave of cyber attack incidents.

Google recently issued a ‘severe’ alert over 51 bugs which could expose devices to cybercriminal attack, amid high profile attacks on Transport for London and the NHS’s systems.

Plus the FBI recently warned people to stop sending texts after a huge cyber attack on US telecoms company AT&T.

Ongoing attacks on Gmail and Apple ID are also causing problems for mobile users, who are now being urged to make a quick check to reduce the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack.

For Android users, or indeed anyone with any form of Google account, the Google account security checkup tool is a great option to protect smartphones from attack.

The resource walks you through several steps to better security, including enhanced safe browsing, recent security activity, account recovery options, and sensitive settings, Forbes reports.

Google prompts users to go through the check on occasion, but it can’t hurt to do it more often – especially in the wake of ongoing cyber attacks.

For Apple phone users, you can access the iPhone safety check feature on your device as long as you are running iOS 16 or later.

To find it, go to settings, then privacy & security, then press on safety check, or you can find step-by-step instructions on the Apple Support website.

The iPhone safety check ‘allows you to quickly review, update and stop sharing your information with individual people and apps’, Apple says on its website.

You can either select an emergency reset to stop all sharing of all information, or choose a management option to review your sharing and access configurations.

It will also tell you if you have stolen device protection enabled, which is always helpful to have turned on.

Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, said: ‘Google and iPhone security checks are a simple yet crucial way to check whether any of your accounts are potentially vulnerable.

‘Looking at your device’s safety checks are a great way to double down on protecting your personal data, reviewing your privacy and account access and making sure your passwords are all unique.

‘Regularly updating your device’s operating system is essential but these generic updates will only go as far as patching known device vulnerabilities.

‘Google and Apple safety checks go the extra mile and offer you the ability to check where security issues may arise in the future.’

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