Despite the best efforts of both Apple and Google, hackers continue to come up with clever new ways to hack smartphones.

From malicious apps to bank trojans and spyware, there are a variety of tools, techniques and tactics in the arsenal of hackers. 

To stay safe from phishing attacks and spoofing scams, you need to stay vigilant online — especially if you are using an Android phone, as it does not carry out the same stringent security checks as the official app store and therefore may contain malware. We want to avoid side-loading of the app, and we want to avoid side-loading of the app.

However, even if you practice good cyber hygiene, avoid clicking on links from unknown senders, and take additional precautions such as using a VPN when connected to public Wi-Fi, there are still ways for hackers to compromise your device.

But to help keep your device safe, the US National Security Agency issued a warning a few years ago that still applies today. This is why this simple exercise can be effective in keeping both the best iphone and the best Android phone protected from hackers.

There are various steps you can take to protect yourself and your device online, but recently thanks to Forbes Online

You will probably shut down and restart your laptop or desktop computer quite often But if in your phone it I had to guess, probably not recently. Now, it is recommended that you regularly add restarting your phone to the laundry list of items needed to stay safe online

A blog post highlights the risk of a cyber security company CheckPoint zero-click attack. Unlike typical malware that requires some form of user interaction, such as clicking a malicious link or downloading a compromised app, zero-click exploits can infect your smartphone without doing anything. For example, hackers can send specially crafted messages or images that can infect even when they open their phone.

Many zero-click attacks exploit zero-day vulnerabilities that have not yet been patched by the device manufacturer. The notorious NSO group that developed Pegasus spyware is known for discovering and weaponizing zero-click vulnerabilities in both iOS and Android to spy on high-value targets such as CEOs and politicians. 

Updating your device frequently and installing the latest patches as soon as they become available, as well as restarting your smartphone is a simple and effective way to protect against zero-click exploits and the types of attacks in which they are used. This is by no means a reliable defense method, but according to the NSA, it can prevent these types of attacks from succeeding. 

So how often do I need to restart my iPhone or Android smartphone? At least 1 time a week is a good rule of thumb about how often you restart your device. This can be set up automatically on the best Samsung phones or the best OnePlus phones, but you can always set reminders in your calendar or restart your phone on a specific day every week to make sure you don't forget. Similarly, on the iPhone, you can create an automation that restarts the device at a selected point.

Restarting your phone at least once a week is one of the lesser-known ways to stay safe from hackers. But there are still some tips and tricks that I haven't touched yet.

If you are using an Android phone, you should make sure that Google Play Protect is enabled, as Google Play Protect will scan all existing apps and any new apps you download for malware. It is free and pre-installed on most Android phones. If you want a bit of extra protection though, you should consider using one of the best Android antivirus apps with it

When it comes to keeping your iPhone safe from malware, that's where things get a little more complicated. Since Apple prevents ios apps from scanning for malware, you should instead turn to one of the best Mac antivirus software solutions.1 Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 both allow you to scan your iphone or iPad for malware, but there is a problem.You need to connect the device to your Mac with a USB cable.

Now that we store very sensitive personal and financial information on our smartphones, they have become a major target for hackers. By actively and quickly installing the latest updates and paying extra attention online, you can fall victim to cybercriminals and avoid your own iPhone or Android phone being hacked.