How to Secure a New Phone

How to Secure a New Phone

Setting up a new phone is the perfect time to establish strong security and privacy from the start. A few steps during and after setup protect your data, accounts, and privacy going forward. This guide walks through how to secure a new phone, in plain terms.

Secure the Device Itself

Start with device-level security:

• Set a strong lock: Use a strong passcode (a longer PIN or password is stronger than a short one) and enable biometrics (fingerprint or face) for convenient, secure unlocking.
• Enable automatic updates: Turn on automatic updates for your operating system and apps, so security patches are applied promptly — one of the most important protections.
• Enable find-my-device and remote wipe: Enable features to locate, lock, or wipe your phone if lost or stolen, protecting your data.
• Set up secure lock screen settings: Limit what is accessible from the lock screen (like message previews and sensitive notifications) for privacy.

Secure Your Accounts

Your accounts are central to your phone:

• Secure your main platform account: Use a strong, unique password and 2FA on the account tied to your phone (your platform/ecosystem account), since it is central and powerful.
• Secure your email: Ensure your email account (often set up on your phone) has a strong password and 2FA, since it is the key to your other accounts.
• Use a password manager: Set up a password manager to manage strong, unique passwords across your accounts and apps.
• Enable 2FA on important accounts: Set up 2FA (ideally app-based) on your important accounts as you sign in to them.

Set Up Privacy Settings

Configure privacy from the start:

• Review app permissions: As you install apps, grant only necessary permissions (especially sensitive ones like location, camera, microphone, contacts), applying least privilege.
• Manage location settings: Set location to "while using" and approximate where possible, and limit which apps have location access.
• Limit ad tracking: Reset or disable your advertising ID, opt out of personalized ads, and use app tracking controls to limit tracking.
• Review privacy settings: Go through your phone's privacy settings and disable data collection and sharing options you are not comfortable with.

Set Up Apps Wisely

Be thoughtful about apps:

• Install only needed apps from official stores: Install apps you need from official app stores, avoiding unnecessary or unofficial apps.
• Use temporary email for uncertain app signups: For apps you are unsure about, use temporary email like Temp90 to protect your real email.
• Be mindful of permissions and data: Be aware of what apps access and collect.

Transfer Data and Retire Your Old Phone Securely

Handle the transition securely:

• Transfer data securely: Use secure, official methods to transfer your data to the new phone.
• Set up backups: Configure secure backups for your new phone, so your data is protected.
• Wipe your old phone: Before selling, giving away, or recycling your old phone, back up its data, sign out of accounts, and perform a factory reset to securely erase your data (see guidance on wiping a device before selling).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first things I should do to secure a new phone?

Start with device security: set a strong passcode and enable biometrics, enable automatic updates (a top protection), enable find-my-device and remote wipe, and configure lock screen privacy. Secure your accounts: use a strong password and 2FA on your main platform account and email (the key to your other accounts), and set up a password manager. Configure privacy: review app permissions as you install apps (granting only what is needed), manage location settings, and limit ad tracking. Install only needed apps from official stores, and set up secure backups. These steps establish strong security and privacy from the start.

How do I set up privacy on a new phone?

Configure privacy from the start: as you install apps, grant only necessary permissions (especially sensitive ones like location, camera, microphone, and contacts), applying least privilege. Set location to "while using the app" and approximate where possible, limiting which apps have location access. Limit ad tracking by resetting or disabling your advertising ID, opting out of personalized ads, and using app tracking controls. Go through your phone's privacy settings and disable data collection and sharing options you are not comfortable with. Setting these up when the phone is new establishes strong privacy before you accumulate many apps.

What should I do with my old phone after getting a new one?

Retire your old phone securely. First, ensure your data is transferred to your new phone and backed up. Then, on the old phone, sign out of your accounts (especially your platform account and email) and remove them, so it is not linked to your accounts. Remove any SIM and memory cards. Finally, perform a factory reset to securely erase your data before selling, giving away, or recycling it. On modern phones with encryption, a factory reset effectively makes your data unrecoverable. Signing out of accounts and factory resetting ensures your personal data and account access do not go with the old device.

Conclusion

Setting up a new phone is the perfect time to establish strong security and privacy from the start. Secure the device itself with a strong passcode and biometrics, automatic updates (a top protection), find-my-device and remote wipe, and lock screen privacy. Secure your accounts with strong passwords and 2FA on your main platform account and email (the key to your other accounts), and set up a password manager. Configure privacy by reviewing app permissions as you install apps (granting only what is needed), managing location settings, limiting ad tracking, and reviewing privacy settings. Set up apps wisely — installing only needed apps from official stores, using temporary email like Temp90 for uncertain signups, and being mindful of permissions. Finally, handle the transition securely: transfer data securely, set up backups, and wipe your old phone (signing out of accounts and factory resetting) before retiring it. By taking these steps when your phone is new, you establish strong security and privacy that protect your data, accounts, and privacy going forward.