Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged citizens to turn off their mobile phones for five minutes every evening as a measure to ensure cybersecurity. According to Albanese, this simple step can help prevent unwanted intervention by attackers.
Albanese stated in an interview with ABC, “Do simple things, for example, turn off your phone for five minutes every night. If you watch it now, practice it every 24 hours – perhaps when you brush your teeth or do another routine.”
This is not the first time a council from an Australian head of state has been issued. In 2020, the American National Security Agency released a leadership embodying the best practices in mobile device cybersecurity. It was also proposed that phones be regularly rebooted.
Supporting Albanese’s recommendation, cybersecurity experts stated that turning off the phone could interrupt the work of potentially dangerous applications that can be used for espionage or data theft. However, they emphasized that this measure does not provide absolute protection against cyber attacks and urged users to update their programs and use secure passwords.
Implementing these precautions, such as the turning off of mobile phones for a few minutes daily, can make a significant difference in reducing cyber threats. The Australian government continues to raise awareness and encourage citizens to take measures to ensure their cybersecurity.