Gone are the days when cybersecurity was only something for those working in the tech industry to worry about. Nowadays, online viruses and phishing scams are flooding the internet and can cause detrimental impacts, both personally and professionally. With more people now using cell phones as their main device, it’s important to be aware of how to keep your mobile devices safe from cyber threats. Unfortunately, mobile devices aren’t immune to the severe impacts of these crimes and when connected to the internet, they become exposed to a high number of threats in the same format as a laptop or PC.
Professionals in the cybersecurity industry are warning people of the dangers of these threats and to act now to prevent personal data from being stolen. Here are just a couple of pointers to keep in mind when using a mobile device:
Web-Based Threats
When websites are accessed by mobiles, spyware can be downloaded onto your device without you even knowing about it. Phishing is one of the main scandals that encourages us to click on links that are appealing or that cater to our interests. Simply by clicking onto a website, harmful spyware otherwise known as a ‘drive-by download’ can attack your device and leave your files exposed to hackers.
Apps
Regardless of your interest, there’s a mobile app to match. While you may be pleased that you’ve downloaded a free app that achieves exactly what you want, it could be collecting personal details from your stored files. It’s common for apps to ask permission from the user before downloading and while you may simply click ‘accept’ to quicken up the process, your details could at that moment be stolen and sold on.
If you own a business and have created a mobile app for your customer base, being hacked could be detrimental. A criminal ultimately becomes the ‘middleman’ between the business and customer which can lead to client information and funds getting stolen. Another hacking scheme is to impersonate your brand by creating an identical mobile app. By hiring fraudwatchinternational.com/services/, for example, fraudulent activity can be detected and stopped immediately.
Free Wi-Fi
When you’re on your travels, getting free Wi-Fi may seem like a novelty, but some networks act as a gateway to access your personal information. Free Wi-Fi often has no login code which means that it’s unsafe. Be wary of which networks you choose to sign up to. Large-scale corporations with Wi-Fi networks are likely to be more trustworthy than small and unknown public venues that you connect to on your travels.
Ignore Strange Emails and Texts
According to a study, mobile is now the preferred method of opening emails which means more mobile devices are at risk of hacking scandals through phishing emails. The scam intends to encourage the user to open the email and click on a link, which instantly gives access to their personal data. One of the most common current hacking trends is ‘smishing’, which works in the same way, but sends text messages to the mobile device.
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Do let us know if you have any thoughts to add. Stay safe, and remember, prevention is better than the cure!
