Smartwatches connect you to a whole host of information. They link to your phone, numerous apps, and sometimes even your payment cards. That means they can display text messages, emails, calendar reminders, and health data. This is all useful and simplifies our world to perhaps a significant degree, but it can also leave us open to cybersecurity risks. After all, if it’s on your phone, it very well could be accessed from your wrist wear!
Think about it. If someone gains access to your watch, they may also gain a window into parts of your digital life. Of course that is now connected to the kneebone, which is connected to the ankle bone which is connected to the…well, you get the picture.
Taking a few minutes to review your device’s security settings can help keep that information protected.
Lock it up
Like your phone or tablet. You should not leave it unlocked. That just ups the risk factor for information theft. Many smartwatches include a wrist detection feature that automatically locks the device when it’s removed. Make sure that is enabled. If that isn’t a feature of your watch, lock it manually when it’s not attached to you. For watchOS, make sure Wrist Detection and Passcode Lock are enabled. On watches using Wear OS, enable the screen lock or PIN feature so someone can’t simply scroll through your notifications.
Watch your wireless connections
Smartwatches communicate through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and sometimes cellular networks.
Turn off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when you’re not using them and avoid connecting to unknown wireless networks. Limiting these connections can reduce opportunities for attackers to intercept data.
Control what appears on your screen
Notifications can be convenient, but they can also reveal sensitive information.
Review your notification settings and disable previews for messages, emails, or financial alerts that don’t need to appear on your watch screen.
Keep it updated
Just like your phone or computer, your smartwatch receives software updates that fix security vulnerabilities. Make sure automatic updates are enabled and install new updates as soon as they become available.
A little security goes a long way
Your smartwatch may be small, but it holds a surprising amount of personal information. Enabling a few key security settings and staying mindful of how your watch connects to other devices can help keep your data protected wherever you go.
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