Gone are the days when your phone was the size of a brick and its sole purpose was to connect you with your loved ones. Today, increasingly tiny phones are used to post status updates to a wide community, check the weather, get directions, order from our favorite stores, and pass time playing Candy Crush.Many people around the world embraced the smartphone and welcomed its convenience with open arms. Now more than a phone, these devices are essentially mini computers, acting as a lifeline to the outside world.While the devices have made many aspects of life easier, they also attract criminals who have access to your most private details including your address book, bank details, account information and photos. Even location services, which are intended to geotag Facebook and Instagram updates are used to tell when an individual has left his or her home, leaving it open for an intrusion.Phones can also get hacked, allowing a thief to place calls on your line to international numbers without even having to touch the device, racking up the bill for the unwitting victim.The importance of securing one's phone was highlighted after the recent wiretapping scandal in Turkey. Over 300,000 people - prominent government, business, and civic officials, including plain citizens - were wiretapped, many through their phones by the Gulen movement under false pretenses.The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published ten steps to smartphone security, available on its website. 1. Set PINS and passwords to lock your screen. 2. Do not modify your smartphone's security settings. 3. Backup and secure your data. 4. Only install apps from trusted sources. 5. Understand app permissions before accepting them. 6. Install security apps that enable remote location and wiping in case your device is stolen. 7. Accept updates and patches to your smartphone's software. 8. Be smart on an open Wi-Fi network and be careful accessing personal or sensitive information. 9. Wipe data on your old phone before you donate, resell or recycle it. 10. Report a stolen smartphone.