9 Things You Should Do to Safeguard your Smartphone from Malware Attacks
Smartphones are more prone to cyberattack as a majority of the world's population completely depends on it, thus making these gadgets a common target for exploiting users. To counter the attacks, every year the security experts try to strengthen the firewall security in the phones for giving a much-secured user experience. You might be unaware of the seriousness of such risks involved in the malware attacks on your Apple and Samsung smartphones. So, let us first see the risks of malware attacks.
How dangerous is the malware attacks?
As per a recent survey organized for cybersecurity research, 40% of smartphone users clicked insecure links on their smart devices. Furthermore, RSA, the security division at Dell EMC, noted that smartphone users are three times more prone to become the victims of cyberattacks when compared to desktop users.
Such users are often careless about the mobile security options on their phones. One should know that by downloading free games or apps through unknown developers on their phones, they are inviting attackers to their devices as well. In accord with the antivirus maker AVG Technologies, 89% of mobile users do not know that the phone apps can transmit one's confidential information such as payment details without the user's consent.
Even the financial apps for the Apple and Samsung smartphones can suffer due to certain malware attack codes that are created to steal the banking credentials and credit card number stored on the phone.
How to protect your Apple and Samsung Smartphones from malware attacks
The modern developers have had a good experience about cyberattacks since the starting of the PC era. Thus, the operating systems of smartphones are developed with strengthened security measures. Major smartphone makers like Samsung and Apple are gearing up to fight the security threats by making huge investments in mobile security firms. However, the security division is not completely responsible for the safety of your device.
Here are some of the ways by which you can safeguard your personal information from smartphone malware attacks.
1. Download from sources that are trustworthy: Before downloading any app, conduct a research to check for the authenticity of the app. You can check reviews, confirm the legitimacy of the app on the store and compare the app sponsor's official website before downloading the app.
2. Consider permissions of application: You need to be cautious about granting access to personal information on your application before accepting them from your smartphone. Check the privacy setting for each app before installing.
3. Backup and Securing data: You need to back up the data stored on your smart device such as your documents, contacts, photos etc. Choose a more secure place to store your precious date such as on cloud, a computer, on a hard drive. This allows restoring your data to your phone if it is stolen by any chance.
4. Have a Security App: Download a mobile security application that monitors each app you are downloading on your device. Moreover, such apps can help you to locate a stolen or lost device. You also need to be sure that the security app shields you phone from unsafe websites.
5. Follow FCC's phone checking application: The Federal Communication Commission has released an online tool named as "Smartphone Security Checker." The tool contained a detailed action plan with ten steps for smartphone users to shield their personal information from being exploited. The experts suggest using this tool as it has turned out to be an intuitive tool for protecting smartphones.
6. Beware of pirated Apps: If you see any paid app free, beware, as it might be a malware attack.
7. Never wire money: Never wire your money to anyone you do not know personally.
8. Set a password: Always secure your phone through the password or biometric security system provided by Apple and Samsung. Setting a password restricts the malware from browsing the data or information on your device.
9. Look out for the phone bill: Regularly check the phone bill for unusual behavior of your phone that might be a sign of malware attacks. Check out unusual text messages, suspicious charges or sudden decrease in the battery.
It is evident that hackers will keep devising ways to circumvent security and steal confidential data from our smartphones. While it is not completely possible to keep all malware at bay, with a few basic measures, we can ensure that our data's confidentiality is not exposed to scrupulous elements to take unfair and illegal advantage of.
Thus, as smartphones keep getting smarter, we too should keep pace as far as malware protection measures are concerned. Hope these tips might prove immensely helpful for you to prevent your Apple and Samsung devices from Malware attacks.
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