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567 Keeping Devices and Networks Safer | Keeping Devices and Apps Updated, and Preparing for a Lost or Stolen Device


Security also depends on the device and network used to reach an account. Updates, screen locks, network choices, shared-device habits, public computers, and preparation for loss all affect how easily another person or harmful software can reach private information.
This section looks beyond passwords to the everyday environment around a device. It covers keeping software current, protecting access to the device itself, using Wi-Fi with care, managing shared devices and computers, and preparing in advance for a phone, tablet, or computer that is lost or stolen.

567.1 Keeping Devices and Apps Updated

Software updates often include repairs for security weaknesses as well as new features and ordinary bug fixes. Once a weakness becomes known, attackers may try to use it against devices that remain unpatched. Keeping the operating system, browser, apps, and security software current therefore removes some opportunities that do not depend on a user clicking anything suspicious.
Automatic updates can make this easier where data, storage, and device support allow them. If updates must be installed manually, use the device’s normal update settings or the software maker’s official source rather than a link from an unexpected pop-up. Older devices may eventually stop receiving security support; that does not mean they instantly become unusable, but sensitive activities may deserve extra caution when known protections can no longer be added. Updating supports other security measures rather than replacing them. It is worth checking rarely used devices as well as the phone or computer used every day.

567.2 Using Screen Locks and Other Device Protection

A screen lock limits what another person can do with a device that is picked up, borrowed, lost, or stolen. A PIN, password, fingerprint, face check, or another device-supported method can protect messages, saved accounts, photos, and apps that remain signed in. The lock should activate after a reasonable period of inactivity so that protection does not depend on remembering to lock the device every time.
A simple code that people nearby can easily observe or guess provides less protection. Biometric methods are convenient, but they are usually backed by a PIN or password that also needs to be strong. Other protections may include encrypted storage, separate user profiles, app locks, or settings that hide sensitive notification content. The right combination depends on the device and how it is used. Device protection is particularly important because possession of an unlocked phone or computer can provide access to password resets and verification messages for many other services.

567.3 Connecting More Safely to Wi-Fi Networks

Wi-Fi provides a connection to the internet, but the name of a network does not prove who operates it. In public places, several networks may have similar names, and a dishonest network can be created to attract users. When possible, confirm the correct network with the venue rather than choosing the strongest signal or the most familiar-looking name.
Modern encrypted websites and apps protect much of the data sent over a network, yet sensitive activity still deserves care on connections you do not control. Keep file sharing and unnecessary discovery features off on public networks, and avoid accepting unexpected security warnings just to make a page load. A personal mobile connection may be preferable for high-value tasks when available. For home Wi-Fi, use a strong router password and install router updates when the device supports them. Network safety is mainly about reducing unnecessary trust in the connection between the device and the services being used.

567.4 Protecting a Device That Other People Also Use

A shared device needs boundaries because one person’s normal activity can expose another person’s accounts or files. Separate user profiles are useful when the operating system supports them, especially if different people use the device regularly. Each person should sign out of sensitive services and avoid saving passwords in a browser profile that others can open.
Shared access also affects downloads and settings. One user installing unknown software or granting broad permissions can create risk for everyone on the device. Agreeing on basic rules—such as who can install apps, how updates are handled, and where private files are kept—can prevent accidental exposure. For occasional lending, a guest mode or limited profile may be better than handing over an unlocked main account. The aim is not to distrust household members or coworkers; it is to recognize that shared equipment needs clearer separation because several people can change or view the same digital environment.

567.5 Being Careful With Public or Shared Computers

Public or shared computers may be convenient for printing, forms, travel, learning, or temporary internet access, but the user has limited control over their security. The machine may save browsing history, downloads, copied files, or sign-in information, and another person may use it soon afterward. Sensitive tasks such as banking or changing important passwords are therefore better done on a trusted device when another option is available.
If a shared computer must be used, avoid saving passwords, decline offers to stay signed in, and sign out of accounts before leaving. Remove downloaded personal files and close the browser, while remembering that deleting visible files may not erase every trace from a managed system. Be cautious with USB drives if the machine’s condition is unknown. Private browsing can reduce local history but does not make an unsafe computer trustworthy. The main protection is limiting what valuable information is exposed to equipment outside the user’s control.

567.6 Preparing for a Lost or Stolen Device

Preparing before a device disappears can make loss or theft much easier to manage. A strong screen lock protects immediate access, while device-location or remote-lock features may help if they are enabled in advance. Important photos, contacts, and files should be backed up so that recovery does not depend on getting the physical device back.
Know which main account controls the device and how to reach its recovery options from somewhere else. Record essential information such as the device model, serial number, or other identifiers where useful for the owner, insurer, employer, or local reporting process. Avoid keeping the only copy of recovery codes on the device itself. If the device holds work or financial apps, understand how those services can be contacted or signed out remotely. Preparation does not prevent theft, but it separates the value of the data and accounts from the value of the hardware, reducing the number of urgent decisions after the loss.