By Jackson Godwin. Cybersecurity Analyst & Penetration Tester
I Reviewed My Parents’ Phone Security—Here’s What Every Family Should Check
Disclaimer: This story is fictional but inspired by common smartphone security issues seen every day. It is written to educate readers and encourage better cybersecurity habits for families.
It Started With a Simple Request
One Sunday afternoon, I visited my parents after church.
We spent time talking about work, family, and life.
As I was getting ready to leave, my mum handed me her phone.
She smiled and said,
“Jackson, can you help me? My phone keeps saying the storage is full.”
I laughed.
I thought I was only going to delete a few old photos.
But after unlocking her phone, I noticed something that immediately caught my attention.
The notification bar was filled with strange alerts.
There were messages from apps she didn’t recognize.
Several updates had been ignored.
There were dozens of applications she couldn’t remember installing.
At that moment, I stopped thinking like a son.
I started thinking like a cybersecurity consultant.
I Asked One Simple Question
I looked at my parents and asked,
“When was the last time anyone checked the security settings on your phone?”
They both looked at each other.
Then my dad smiled.
“Security settings? We only use the phone to call people, read WhatsApp messages, and watch Facebook videos.”
That answer worried me.
Not because they had done something wrong.
But because millions of parents believe exactly the same thing.
Many people assume cybercriminals only target businesses, wealthy individuals, or technology experts.
The reality is very different.
Attackers often target ordinary smartphone users because they know many people have never reviewed their phone’s security settings.
What I Found Surprised Me
I decided to perform a simple smartphone security audit.
Nothing complicated.
Just the same basic checks I recommend to friends, family, and clients.
Within twenty minutes, I had already discovered several issues.
None of them looked serious on their own.
But together, they could have increased the risk of fraud, privacy problems, or account compromise.
The surprising part?
These weren’t mistakes only my parents were making.
I realized many younger smartphone users probably had the same problems.
Mistake #1 – The Phone Hadn’t Been Updated in Months
The first thing I checked was the software version.
Several security updates were waiting to be installed.
When I asked why they hadn’t updated the phone, my mum replied,
“I’m always afraid updates will spoil the phone.”
I’ve heard that concern many times.
Many people postpone updates because they worry about losing photos, changing settings, or slowing down their devices.
While updates can occasionally introduce changes, they also include important security fixes that help protect against known vulnerabilities.
Ignoring updates for long periods can leave devices less protected than they could be.
We connected the phone to Wi-Fi.
Started the update.
Less than thirty minutes later, it was complete.
One simple task had already improved the phone’s security.
Mistake #2 – Too Many Apps Had Unnecessary Permissions
Next, I reviewed the app permissions.
I wasn’t expecting surprises.
I was wrong.
One flashlight app had access to location.
A game wanted access to contacts.
Several applications could use the microphone.
Others requested storage access even though they didn’t appear to need it.
When I asked my dad if he remembered granting those permissions, he simply shrugged.
“I just press Allow so the app can open.”
That answer reminded me of how many people install apps.
Download.
Install.
Allow.
Allow.
Allow.
Finished.
Most people never go back to review what they’ve approved.
Why Permissions Matter
Every permission gives an app access to another part of your phone.
Sometimes that’s completely reasonable.
For example:
- A camera app needs camera access.
- A navigation app needs location access.
- A messaging app may need access to your contacts.
But some applications request permissions that aren’t necessary for their main purpose.
That’s why reviewing app permissions from time to time is a good security habit.
Together, we removed unnecessary permissions from several applications.
It took less than fifteen minutes.
Mistake #3 – Unknown Apps Were Still Installed
While scrolling through the application list, I noticed something unusual.
There were apps neither of my parents recognized.
Some had strange names.
Others hadn’t been opened in years.
When I asked where they came from, my mum laughed.
“Maybe your younger brother installed them.”
My dad wasn’t sure either.
Unused apps aren’t automatically dangerous.
But keeping applications you no longer use increases the amount of software installed on your phone.
As a general rule, if you don’t recognize an app and no longer need it, it’s worth reviewing before deciding whether to keep it.
We removed several unused applications and organized the remaining ones.
The phone immediately felt cleaner and easier to use.
A Bigger Lesson Began to Emerge
By this point, we had spent less than an hour together.
Already we had:
- Installed security updates.
- Reviewed app permissions.
- Removed unnecessary applications.
None of these tasks required advanced technical knowledge.
They simply required someone to take the time to check.
That’s when I realized something important.
Helping family members stay safe online isn’t about making them cybersecurity experts.
It’s about teaching simple habits that can reduce everyday risks.
And there were still several important security settings left to review.
What I discovered next convinced me that every family should spend at least one afternoon each year reviewing the smartphones of the people they care about.
(Continue reading in the next section, where I’ll reveal the remaining security mistakes we found and the simple changes that made my parents’ phones significantly safer.)
