The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rolled out a set of device management guidelines aimed at helping citizens protect themselves and their families from rising cyber crime and data theft.
PTA said the measures are designed to give users control over the security of every device in a household, from smartphones and tablets to computers, amid a sharp increase in online fraud, harassment and data breaches.
PTA noted that cyber criminals have adopted multiple methods to target unsuspecting users online, often resulting in financial losses and harassment. The authority also warned that personal devices frequently store sensitive documents and data, which can be exposed to theft or misuse if a device is lost or stolen.
Under the new guidelines, PTA has recommended that users regularly back up important documents, photographs and contacts to secure cloud storage or an external device, reducing the risk of permanent data loss.
The authority also urged users to keep all devices updated with the latest security patches and software versions, and to enable strong passwords or biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition for added protection.
For further security, PTA advised the use of location tracking services, including Find My iPhone and Find My Google, which can help users trace lost or stolen devices.
The guidelines also call for the use of parental control features that limit screen time, restrict access to specific applications and block inappropriate content.
In addition, PTA instructed users to perform a factory reset on any smartphone, tablet or computer before selling it, giving it away or sending it for repair, in order to prevent personal data from being accessed or misused by third parties.
The authority said the guidelines form part of its broader effort to raise public awareness of digital security and reduce the growing risk of cyber crime.
