Experts reveal you should turn off your phone for 5 minutes every night, here's why

Cybersecurity experts believe that users should be better at regularly turning off their phones as it can help prevent cyber threats.

In 2020, the United State’s National Security Agency included rebooting smartphones once a week in the best-practice guidelines for how to keep hackers away.

While appointing Australia’s new cybersecurity coordinator, prime minister Anthony Albanese also advised residents to turn their devices off and on again daily as a cybersecurity measure.

Experts agree that forcibly closing apps by restarting your phone could stop criminals from monitoring and collecting data, to a certain extent. Here is what they say.

Meanwhile, Google urged millions of users to update their Chrome browser over a risky bug. The tech giant also banned this popular app due to security threats.

WhatsApp users were also warned of a scam that could steal access to their phone, here is how to stay safe.

Turning your phone off and on again could minimise cyber risks

Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has recently advised device owners to be more diligent in how they use their phones over growing cyber security concerns.

He said:

We all have a responsibility. Simple things, turn your phone off every night for five minutes. For people watching this, do that every 24 hours, do it while you’re brushing your teeth or whatever you’re doing.

Experts back the politician’s advice.

According to Dr Priyadarsi Nanda, a cybersecurity specialist and a senior lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, rebooting a phone regularly could minimise the risk of hacker attacks.

Many users don’t realise their apps are often running in the background allowing thieves to maliciously monitor you or collect your data.

Turning your phone off forcibly closes these applications and processes.

Nanda said:

Given how much we use smartphones in our lives, we know of cases where people haven’t turned their phones off in an entire year.

If there’s a process running from the adversarial side, turning off the phone breaks the chain, even if it’s only for the time the phone is off, it certainly frustrates the potential hacker.

Nanda warns that although rebooting doesn’t fully protect you, it makes it harder for hackers to steal your data.

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Rebooting alone can’t fight cybercrime

Unfortunately, regularly turning off your phone is unlikely to stop determined hackers from targeting a specific individual, experts agree.

The proliferation of sophisticated hacker technologies makes keeping your device safe more and more challenging.

Dr Arash Shaghaghi, a senior lecturer in cybersecurity at the University of New South Wales, believes that rebooting your phone is ‘a good first step’ to encourage users to adopt better cyber-hygiene.

But he warned against a false sense of security.

He said:

If your password is stolen and you disconnect your phone, you are not protected, and your account is still at risk. If attackers target a device, a temporary disconnect may be only an inconvenience for attackers.

Some processes and components of phones can remain active even if turned off.

Shaghaghi added:

Rebooting your device regularly helps when your device is not compromised with persistent malware, as can turning on airplane mode.

The expert advises people to be cautious of the apps they install and permissions they grant as they can maliciously track your location and listen to your conversations.

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Sources used:

- The Guardian: 'Turn your phone off every night for five minutes, Australian PM tells residents'