If you do any amount of gaming on your phone, then there’s a small risk of you unwittingly sharing information with unscrupulous third parties. As such, it’s worth thinking about how you might mitigate this risk – and others. Let’s run through a few essential tips for doing exactly this.

Protect your phone

Physical risk arguably matters as much as the digital kind. It doesn’t matter how scrupulously you manage your data if you accidentally smash your phone on a kitchen floor, or run it over with the wheel of your office chair. Invest in a good case and a screen protector. While most phones are equipped with fairly rugged screens, they are far from invincible.

Manage your files

The apps that run on your phone will suck up battery. As such, it’s a good idea to occasionally check which ones are actually running. Going through your files and deleting the things you don’t need will also help you to get rid of the digital clutter in your life.

Safeguard your data

When you’re composing usernames and passwords for unfamiliar sites and services, you’ll want to be sure that you aren’t unwittingly revealing any personal information about yourself. For best results, it’s a good idea to invest in a password manager that is protected by multi-factor authentication. This will not only reduce the likelihood of a password being guessed; it will also contain breaches to just a small part of your online presence.

Safe gaming practices

Don’t download any games from non-reputable sources. Random .exe files that you encounter online are almost certain to be malicious. Stick to major gaming platforms and app stores. Don’t trust everyone you meet online, and select the people you play with carefully. If you’re going to be playing gambling-focused games like slots, then you’ll want to set spending limits. Most good betting platforms will allow you to do this.

Using the internet

The way that you log onto the internet in the first place can often expose you to vulnerabilities. Try to avoid public WiFi if possible. If you don’t have a choice, then the right VPN will help to keep your data private by first encrypting it, and then sending it to a remote server that will deal with the internet on your behalf. There are many different VPN services available; the best of them will integrate directly into your operating system.