How To Protect a Relative with a New Smartphone
A practical setup guide for helping a family member configure a new smartphone safely from day one.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Getting a new smartphone is exciting — but it is also the moment when security habits are set, for better or worse. A family member who is new to smartphones, or upgrading after a long gap, is particularly vulnerable to social engineering, fake app stores, and phishing attempts while they are still learning what is normal. A short setup session together can establish safe habits that last the life of the device.
Set up the essentials before anything else
A handful of security settings matter more than any app and should be configured before the phone is used for banking, messaging, or anything sensitive. Set a strong screen lock using a six-digit PIN or biometric unlock rather than a simple pattern or four-digit code, turn on automatic software updates so security patches install without your relative needing to remember, and enable the phone's built-in 'find my device' and remote-wipe feature in case it is ever lost or stolen. Also take a few minutes to set up a recovery email and phone number for the device's account, since this is what allows regaining access if your relative ever gets locked out — a detail far easier to fix now than after the fact.
- Set a strong screen lock — a six-digit PIN or longer, or biometric
- Enable automatic software updates so the device receives security patches
- Set up the device's built-in Find My or Find My Device feature in case it is lost or stolen
- Create or sign into the official app store account together
Install only what is needed from official sources
Most smartphone malware arrives disguised as a legitimate app, so keeping installations limited to the official app store and well-known, widely reviewed apps removes the majority of the risk. Explain that a text or pop-up urging your relative to install an app from a link, rather than searching for it directly in the app store, is a strong warning sign, since this is a common way fraudulent 'banking security' or 'parcel tracking' apps get installed. Before installing anything new together, check the developer name, the number of downloads, and recent reviews for complaints about hidden charges or suspicious permissions. It also helps to periodically review which apps have access to contacts, location, or the camera, and remove anything unfamiliar or no longer used.
- Only install apps from the official app store — not from links in messages or emails
- Review what permissions each new app requests — reject anything that seems unnecessary
- Avoid clicking 'Install' on any pop-up that appears while browsing the web
- Uninstall apps that are no longer used
Set up scam-protective habits from the start
A few communication habits, established while the phone is still new, become second nature far faster than trying to retrofit them onto years of existing habits. Agree that your relative will never give a one-time code, password, or bank details to anyone who calls or texts them, no matter who they claim to be, and practise the simple response of hanging up and calling a trusted number back if anything feels off. Show them how to block a number and report a text as spam directly from the messaging app, since doing this immediately after a suspicious contact reduces repeat attempts. Setting up spam call filtering, available on most modern phones, in the first week also meaningfully cuts down scam calls before bad habits or false trust have a chance to form.
- Enable call screening or spam-call filtering if available on the device or network
- Agree never to click links in text messages from unknown senders
- Know that pop-up messages claiming the phone has a virus are almost always scams
- Agree to check with family before installing any app someone has messaged them about
Conversation script
“Congratulations on the new phone! Can we spend 20 minutes setting up a few things that will keep it safe?”
“The most important rule for smartphones is: only install apps from the official app store, and never from a link someone sends you.”
“If a message ever pops up saying your phone has a virus, do not tap anything on it — just call me and we will sort it together.”
Frequently asked questions
What if the relative has already installed apps from unknown sources?
Review installed apps together and remove anything unfamiliar or that was installed from outside the official store. Run the device's built-in security scan if one is available.
Is it worth installing additional security software?
Modern smartphones have strong built-in security if kept updated and used carefully. A reputable security app from an established company can add useful features, but is generally not essential for a standard user.