Why the NSA Wants You to Reboot Your Devices WeeklyIf a time traveler told you he’d seen your future and you needed to hit one button to save you and your clients, would you do it?

Well, here’s the thing.  That may not be as crazy as it sounds. Cellphones have become a  major part of everyone’s lives, and an attack by a hacker could be devastating.  But this risk can be reduced by taking one simple action: hit the power button and do a restart at least once a week.

This advice comes directly from The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), who issued an advisory recently that powering off and rebooting an iPhone or Android device at least once a week helps keep phones safe.

Why does it matter to MSPs and their clients? Well, this frequent reboot can prevent a specific type of cyberattack called a "zero-click" exploit.

Zero-click exploits are a form of cyberattack that can compromise your phone without any action on your part.  That’s right.  It requires no clicking on strange links or opening suspicious files. Just by having your device on, an attacker can gain access and potentially steal data, spy through your device’s camera or microphone, or install other harmful software. Zero-click exploits don’t survive a full power-off cycle; rebooting clears these from the device’s active memory, effectively halting any ongoing threat process.

As attacks become more sophisticated, rebooting once a week is becoming a critical step in maintaining cybersecurity. Here’s why this weekly reboot is so essential for protecting clients’ data and privacy:

  • Quick and Effective Threat Removal

Most advanced malware seeks persistence, meaning it tries to survive device reboots. However, simpler malware and zero-click exploits often only exist in your device’s memory, not in its permanent storage. A restart eliminates these temporary, memory-based threats, providing an easy but effective line of defense.

  • Reducing Vulnerability Exposure

Regular reboots not only help against zero-click threats but also reset various system processes that attackers could exploit. For MSPs who manage mobile devices for clients, emphasizing regular reboots adds a layer of security for data protection that complements other mobile device management (MDM) practices.

  • Enforcing a Proactive Security Routine

While a weekly reboot might seem minor, it can reinforce the importance of proactive security habits. For MSPs advising clients, this weekly reminder could pair well with regular updates on other device security best practices—like updating software, using strong passcodes, disabling unused features like Bluetooth and location services, and encouraging multifactor authentication.

Helping Clients

For your clients, especially those not deeply involved in the tech side, the weekly reboot is a practical, easy-to-follow step that sidesteps the complexity of more technical security measures. It’s a simple way to say, "You’re doing something to safeguard your information" without requiring them to fully understand the mechanics behind zero-click attacks or advanced malware.

Bottom Line?

Each layer of defense matters.  While there is no single security measure that’s foolproof, combining reboots with secure configurations, up-to-date software, and periodic assessments is the path forward for you managing mobile devices. Given the simplicity of a weekly reboot, it’s time to press the button, and tell your clients to do the same thing.  There may not be a time traveler giving you insight into the future, but this highly achievable step is definitely progress toward fortifying mobile security across the board.