How to Protect Your Mobile Device
Just like with computers, phones are susceptible to getting malware as well. Depending on the malware it can search through text messages, look at pictures, track your location, grab banking passwords, etc… However, there are ways to protect yourself. The first step of protection is being knowledgeable about what is out there and how it gets on your phone. Phones are usually affected through apps you download, websites you visit, or emails/text messages you receive.
When downloading apps it’s important that you only download them from trusted sites such as Apple’s App Store or Google Play. This is because, one of the most common ways malware gets downloaded onto peoples phones is under the guise of a legitimate app. This is done by someone taking a pre-existing app or creating a knock off version an app, attaching malware to the code, and then putting it up on a third party app store for a discounted price. So while it may be tempting to jump on those good deals, it’s always best to download the real thing from a trusted source. That being said, even on Google Play and the App Store you need to check the publisher to make sure that it is legitimate because, even though Google and Apple try to catch harmful apps before they get posted, there is the occasional one that slips by them. A popular trend among malicious apps right now is to impersonate banks or financial institutions and then steal your account information, so be hyper vigilant when downloading those.
If you go to a website or open an email, text message, or link that has malware in it they can embed and encode inside your phone without permission and take whatever information it is looking for. So, when it comes to avoiding websites with malware the best advice is: if it looks sketchy don’t go there. Also, there are forums online that have lists of websites that have been registered as having viruses and malware, so if you’re not sure about a site look it up before you click on it. The same advice goes for avoiding emails and text messages that can have malware in them. If you don’t know who sent it don’t open it without first, if possible, verifying that it is a legitimate person and that the message and links are trustworthy.
Another way to keep your phone secure is to put antivirus software on it. The number of malware threats that are out there have increased exponentially in the last couple years, and in response to that many companies have come out with anti-virus applications for phones. Depending on the app, these can scan websites, emails, texts, and apps to make sure that the material contained in it is not malicious. Some of the top ranked ones are:
- Lookout
- Bitdefender
- AVG
- McAfee
The final security advice is on your phone’s physical security. For most of us our phones contain a lot of personal information and if that gets in the hands of another person it can cause a lot of damage. The first thing that you can do to protect your information is put a password on your phone. While phone passwords aren't un-hackable it does deter some criminals and adds an extra layer of protection so they’ll at least have to work to get your information. Secondly, it’s best not to store highly sensitive information on your phone such as passwords, bank numbers, or social security numbers. However, if you find that necessary to do, it’s best not to put them in a note titled "passwords" or "important numbers". Give it a name like favorite youtube usernames or something that is nondescript. Lastly, don't leave your phone lying around where it can easily get stolen.
When it comes to security the most important thing you can do is be proactive and vigilant in your phone’s security, because that is what is going to keep your information safe.
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