With our smartphones becoming pocket computers and the development of the Internet of Things, it was only natural that cybercrime would move to mobile devices. Mobile devices are very susceptible to invasion as people are a bit more relaxed on their use of devices especially if it is a business and personal device. Let’s look at the seven mobile cybersecurity threats you need to be aware of.
1. Check your physical security
By having a passcode or biometric check, you can protect your phone from being tampered with by an individual. Also, ensure you don’t leave your phone in the open where it is easy for someone to steal it. It is important to enable the security features which come with your phone whether it is an Apple or Android device.
2. Don’t go phishing
It is easy to click on a link or message before you are sure what it is about on your phone. Ensure you read the message carefully before you enter any personal or sensitive information. Attackers will use messages to lure you into sharing sensitive information. Therefore, it is important to verify the source of the email before you act.
Phishing can take on different forms in the mobile environment. Smishing is when you get SMSs which try to lure you into sharing personal information. If you are a high-value target, you may experience spear-phishing where cybercriminals will have you under surveillance to gather information about you to make the phishing sound more convincing. The last type is Vishing which uses voice services to try defrauding their targets.
3. Create strong passwords
Passwords are the key to all the areas of your life. If you use weak passwords or create passwords which are easy to guess or figure out, then you have given cybercriminals the key to your virtual house with the freedom to do as they please. This can be particularly problematic if you have company information on your phone and it is stolen. Use a password keeper and ensure you generate strong passwords with numbers, symbols, and letters. You should also try to change your passwords from time to time.
4. Be aware of leaked data
When activating apps on your phone check what permissions you give the app. Some apps may ask for more data about you than is necessary and this data could be used for nefarious purposes. You can use a virtual personal network (VPN) to help protect your data from being harvested by a third party.
5. Avoid unsecured Wifi networks
If you want to keep your phone secure, you need to ensure the network you join is secure too. If you use an unsecured network, cybercriminals can hack into your phone and plant malware or even lock your phone and ask for a ransom. If you want to connect to the internet in public use mobile data or make sure you don’t access any webpages or apps that hold sensitive information.
6. Update your mobile operating system
By ensuring that your operating system is up to date, you can be better protected against cyber criminals. This is because weaknesses in your operating system can open the door for cybercriminals to enter your phone.
7. Watch out for malware
Malware is a file or code which infects, explores, watches or any other activity that the attacker wants to do on your phone. You get different types like survillenceware, spyware, stalkware, and nuisanceware. These all cause your phone to run slowly and may harm your phone’s battery. You should also be careful of code which causes your phone to mine cryptocurrency or subscribe to premium service dealers without your knowledge.
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