Hide Your Texts to Protect More Than Just Juicy Gossip - PCMag

By default, astir smartphones amusement the archetypal fewer words of incoming substance messages connected your phone's fastener screen. You should absolutely, 100% alteration that default setting. Allowing incoming texts to beryllium readable connected the fastener surface is simply a gaping information hole.

One reason, speech from snoops being capable to work your messages, is that your texts whitethorn incorporate multi-factor authentication (MFA) codes. These codes are usually six-digit numbers that a institution sends to you erstwhile you're trying to log into an online account.

Why Should You Protect Your Lock Screen?

Imagine idiosyncratic gets their hands connected not lone your phone, but besides 1 of your username-and-password combos (they're incredibly inexpensive to buy connected the acheronian web). If you let preview substance connected your fastener screen, that crook present has entree to MFA codes sent by SMS oregon email, which means they person a beforehand doorway to your account.

Even if you fastener your telephone remotely, which you would bash if you mislaid it oregon had it stolen, each the hacker has to bash is instrumentality retired the SIM paper (assuming you person a carnal one, not an eSIM) and popular it into a caller phone. Then erstwhile again they person entree to incoming texts.

Here's what to do: Change the default mounting connected your telephone to fell previews of incoming texts and emails. Second, see changing the method you usage for MFA to thing different than one-time passcodes sent implicit SMS. 

The representation successful the mediate shows an incoming substance connection notification with the contents hidden. The representation connected the near and close amusement akin notifications from Gmail and Messages with a preview of the connection visible. (Credit: PCMag)

How to Hide Text Messages and Emails From Your Lock Screen

iPhone

On iPhone, spell to Settings > Messages > Notifications. Look for a conception called Lock Screen Appearance. Tap Show Previews and prime Never. It's akin for email: Go to Settings and past take your email app; past prime Notifications and toggle disconnected the Show Previews option.

Or, if you privation to fell each apps from showing immoderate contented connected the locked screen, spell to Notifications > Show Previews > Never. If you prime this option, you won't spot overmuch item from immoderate app erstwhile you get notifications. You'll lone spot the app name, icon, clip received, and an denotation that you person a notification. So, for example, if you privation your ride-hailing app to archer you from the fastener surface the licence sheet fig of the car picking you up, don't usage this broad method of hiding notification previews. 

(Credit: PCMag)

Android

Every Android telephone is simply a small different, truthful the nonstop steps for hiding messages connected your locked telephone oregon successful your messaging app whitethorn vary.

If you lone privation to fell the contented of substance messages, unfastened your Messaging app, and spell to its Settings > Notifications > In-app Notification Settings. Look for the enactment Preview New Messages and toggle it off.

There's different enactment that's adjacent much secure. You tin fell the contents of all notifications, not conscionable messages. Doing that volition forestall radical from seeing snippets of incoming emails and different perchance idiosyncratic information. Go to Settings > Notifications and look for Sensitive Notifications. Turn it off. Now lone the app sanction and clip of accomplishment of caller messages look connected your locked screen, not the contents of the notifications.

Change Your MFA Method

Hiding the contents of your incoming messages is 1 mode to support your privateness and be a small safer online. Another enactment I urge successful summation to hiding your substance messages is to alteration however you authenticate yourself. Getting a codification by substance connection oregon email isn't the lone mode to bash it. With immoderate accounts, you tin take your method. (That said, not each institution gives you an option. Some volition importune connected sending codes by substance oregon email, which is wherefore it's truthful important to fell the preview of incoming messages connected your phone.)

All the information experts astatine PCMag wholeheartedly urge utilizing multi-factor authentication wherever it's available. Choosing codes sent via SMS is not the safest option, though. You're amended disconnected utilizing an authentication app oregon a carnal information key.

Authentication Apps

Authentication apps make a code, overmuch similar the codification you mightiness get by SMS, but it's generated close connected your phone, making it safer than a codification sent implicit the aerial to your SIM card. As mentioned, anyone with your SIM paper could get these codes, oregon the codes could beryllium intercepted successful transit. That's not the lawsuit with an authentication app. Some examples of authentication apps are Google Authenticator, LastPass Authenticator, and Twilio Authy. They're each escaped and there's not excessively overmuch favoritism among them.

Physical Security Keys

A physical information key is among the astir unafraid ways to authenticate yourself. These keys are small devices you transportation with you that authenticate your identity. Only you clasp your key. The cardinal interacts with your devices successful a assortment of ways, depending connected which nonstop benignant of cardinal you have, specified arsenic by plugging into a USB-C oregon different larboard oregon done near-field communication. 

(Credit: Yubico)

Your cardinal is unsocial to you, and it requires nary batteries, net connection, oregon moving parts to work. Our favourite information cardinal astatine the infinitesimal is the Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC due to the fact that it tin enactment with astir immoderate existent device, and it sells for a just terms ($55), though determination are bully options for more similar $20.

It's Better to Stay connected Top of Privacy Than to Clean Up a Mess Later

Taking small steps to support your privateness and support your online accounts unafraid is undoubtedly preferable to cleaning up a information catastrophe aft it happens. Hiding your substance messages and utilizing unafraid forms of MFA bash much to support you than you whitethorn realize. For example, a fewer years ago, Google required employees to usage carnal keys for MFA, and relationship takeovers efficaciously dropped to zero. Don't underestimate an ounce of prevention, particularly regarding your online security.

If you've precocious been hacked, work up connected what to bash now (or bookmark that nonfiction for erstwhile you oregon a person whitethorn request it).