NSA warns smartphone users to reboot weekly for security
- The NSA recommended in 2020 that smartphone users reboot their devices weekly for security against cyber threats.
- Experts suggest that while rebooting can help device performance and battery life, it is not strictly necessary due to modern security measures.
- Rebooting smartphones regularly is seen as a harmless practice by cybersecurity professionals.
In 2020, the National Security Agency (NSA) issued a caution to smartphone users, including those using Android and iPhone devices, recommending a weekly reboot of their devices to combat cyber threats like zero-click attacks and spear-phishing. This suggestion was part of a broader document titled Mobile Device Best Practices, but the reboot advice gained the most attention. While many cybersecurity professionals agree on the importance of maintaining physical control over devices and using strong passwords, they also question the relevance of other security advice, including disabling Bluetooth and avoiding public Wi-Fi. Although rebooting can be beneficial in refreshing the device's performance and battery life, experts believe that it is not a necessity for modern phones that come equipped with robust malware protections. Nevertheless, rebooting once in a while is acknowledged as a harmless practice.