Your smartphone faces several security threats, and it’s important to understand exactly what some of the more common ones are, so you can take steps to protect your device against them. Here are a few of the common security threats you just might come across, and some solutions to help prevent them from plaguing and infecting your smartphone.
Top 4 Common Mobile Security Threats and Prevention Tips
1. Malware from Applications and Websites
Some malware may only inject advertisements or slow down your device. However, some malware may fully infect your smartphone, steal all your data, monitor your every action, give full control of the device to someone else, or do many other terrible things.
Malware isn’t something to take lightly. Keep in mind that malware includes all malicious code that can infect your smartphone. For example, viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, and a host of other very serious types of harmful code. In most cases, malware cannot get into your smartphone’s OS without an invite from you.
Typically, the malicious code will hide in apps or websites. The best way to prevent malware from these sources is to only install apps from a highly reputable source, such as your phone’s official app store. When online, try to avoid unfamiliar websites, portals, and odd-looking links. If you don’t know where the click will take you, then don’t click.
2. Exploits that Take Advantage of Unsecured Applications
Many threat actors specifically target or exploit unsecured applications. Poorly made applications can lead to this issue, as well as old and outdated applications.
Maybe the app lacks the newer security protocol. Maybe the app developer updated the app to patch a vulnerability, but you never updated the app on your device.
Unsecured applications compromise your entire device. Once again, it’s best to install apps from reputable sources. Even then, keep all your applications updated.
3. Using Services that Lack Adequate Cybersecurity Protocols
You can’t trust every app you find in an app store or online. Even if the application itself isn’t compromised, there’s a possibility that the app developer has security issues. This shouldn’t give you paranoia about all the apps you use, but it’s important to know what information you’re giving out, and where that information will go.
For example, you may have installed a financial app that sounds appealing. What permissions is the app asking for? If it asks for a lot of personal and financial data, that makes sense. But where is that data going? Will it sit on someone’s server? Is that someone a vetted business and developer with the tools needed to protect your highly sensitive data?
When using any application or website that asks for highly sensitive data, make sure you understand their policies on storing or using that data. If they have no policy that you can easily find, then it’s a red flag.
If that developer suffers a data breach because they lack property security measures, then your information can go straight out into the wild to be used or sold. And that’s if the developer isn’t selling the information.
4. Falling Victim to Phishing and Similar Attacks
This type of attack attempts to lure and trick with an official-looking email, link, message, or website. The person will click the link or go to the website and end up giving up personal information to what they think is a trusted site, or the person might download something malicious for the same reason.
The absolute best way to avoid phishing is to verify the message, email, link, or website comes from the actual source. Admittedly, some phishing attempts are good, so people can still fall prey to them.
A good way to avoid phishing attempts by email is to activate your email’s spam filters. If you receive a message from an unrecognizable number, then don’t click a link or respond with personal information.
You can often tell you’re receiving a fraudulent email by the wording, messaging, and overall feel of the email. This is important, as some email addresses can look like the real ones from the person or business you would expect.
This also applies to websites. Even if it looks remarkably like the real thing, double-check the message that directed you to it, especially if something doesn’t sound right about the message. Verify the website you’re on by paying attention to the site address.
These are just some of the threats that plague smartphones. You can do what you can to mitigate them. A little education and some general research can set you on the right path. However, it’s not possible to always stop all threats.
Many more threats exist that can plague your smartphone, so having some help will go a long way. Find a highly effective security suite for your smartphone and other devices.
Modern mobile security protection does a lot of the heavy lifting to protect your smartphone and your data from the myriad of cybersecurity threats out there. You should still develop and practice safe smartphone and internet usage, but additional security will help you do a lot more with device, data, and privacy protection.
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