Mobile Security – Keeping Your Smartphone Safe

Malware can infect mobile phones and tablets. Your mobile phone needs antivirus/anti-malware software. Make sure you have a trustworthy mobile anti-malware application installed.

Be wary of the free security apps. Free goodies are good for fun purposes but not for security apps. Malware can be hidden in apps. Unsuspecting users who download apps without thoroughly reading the permissions may give access for malicious uses. These apps are often virally intended to keep you safe but can be dangerous.

Only download mobile apps from trusted sources. Do not download apps that are not from trusted app stores like Apple App Store, Google Play, Microsoft Store and Amazon Appstore. You should also check the reputation and history of the app developer. Anything suspicious should be flagged and reported.

Once an app is downloaded, it can infect mobile devices with malware. The malware can remain even after you delete the app.

Many people prefer to check email on their phones rather than on a computer because it is so convenient. But they have a false sense of security about the security of emails when checked on a mobile device.

You can’t assume that an email is secure just because you are away from your computer. Be vigilant about unexpected emails and scam emails that are disguised as genuine messages.

It may be harder to check the legitimacy of a link on the phone. If you see something questionable and want to verify the link, open the email on your computer.

Smishing is the SMS text message version of phishing. A hacker can breach your mobile device if you click on the links in the message. The SMS can also ask you to text back personal information.

SMS messages can sometimes masquerade as messages from government officials or well-known charities. It can also be in the form of messages that seem out of place, e.g. shipping notifications when you have not ordered anything.

Phishing via text messaging is a growing problem. Most people are not aware of it and would often get caught in the trap.

Approximately 2.6 million apps have not had an update in a year or more. Apps are often abandoned by the developer. This can leave vulnerabilities on your device which could leave you vulnerable to hacking attempts. Hackers routinely look for these sorts of vulnerabilities to exploit.

Get rid of apps that you are no longer using on your device. Keeping unused apps can potentially leave your mobile devices at risk of attack.

In addition, consider the app’s last update. If it is over a year old, then you may want to consider replacing it with a more current app. Updates often contain safety features. It’s best when updates are not made for a year or more without the vendor making any improvements to the app.

Always keep your mobile device’s operating system up to date. Not installing updates could mean that your phone has vulnerabilities. These can cause hackers to access your phone for malicious purposes.

Set up automated updates so that you won’t have to run them manually. If you have a managed IT service plan, include all mobile devices used for work purposes.