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Why Your Smartphone Isn’t As Safe As You Think

smartphone securityWhen you are browsing the internet on your smartphone, you probably do not put much thought into the kinds of sites that you are visiting. After all, viruses are for computers, not smartphones, right? But this sort of mindset is dangerous and could lead you to all sorts of problems in the future. And when you think about it, it makes sense that a small, handheld device would be at least as vulnerable as a sophisticated desktop computer or laptop. Still skeptical? Here are just a couple of the ways in which your smartphone can be vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Apps

Apps are the number one method that most hackers use to gain access to your smartphone. There are a lot of apps out there that are created with no other purpose than to gain access to your devices. The best thing to do is to be vigilant about screening which apps you download in the first place. Most app stores are good at catching dangerous apps, but they do not always find them in time. If you are about to download an app, make sure that it is created by a trusted source, has positive reviews, and serves a specific purpose.

When you purchase an app, you might also be unknowingly handing it access to your information and punching holes in your network security by clicking accept€ to the terms and conditions. You can buy virus protection software that will scan each app before you download it.

Attachments

Just as one of the easiest ways to get a virus on your computer is by opening an attachment sent by email, the same rings true for a smartphone. So whether you are sent something by email, text message, or some other service on your device, be just as discerning as you would on your regular computer, when deciding whether to open it or not.

Computers

Sometimes your phone is fine, but it can become infected the moment that you hook it up to the wrong device. If your computer has a virus, and your phone is unprotected, it will quickly get the same virus too.

Browsing

Just as the wrong websites will cause problems for your computer, your phone is equally vulnerable to internet downloads and popups. There is no clear cut way to avoid offending sites, but as a general rule, sticking to well known and respected sites is a good way to cover you back, and take note: if the site is illegal (such as a site for torrenting music, movies etc) it is one to avoid at all costs!

In the history of modern technology, smartphones are a relatively new concept, which means that much is still unknown regarding protecting them from this sort of harm. However, that only makes it all the more important that we take the necessary measures to do whatever we can.

If you are a member of a big company with access to a lot of sensitive information, a cyber attack can be crippling to the company as well as you personally. But even if your smartphone only has access to your own information, or perhaps your home security system, the personal implications will be just as devastating. So next time you see that hilarious app that you have never heard of, think twice before tapping the download€ button.

Written By

About the Author: Rick Delgado is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed nerd who is an expert in technology and software development. He enjoys keeping up with the latest tech innovations and writing about them.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Todd

    August 22, 2013 at 6:30 am

    Hi Rick,

    You have done a good job. I have learnt about different ways that can make our smartphone vulnerable to viruses and other cyber attacks. This can be restricted with the use of a good antivirus software especially made for smartphone devices. I really appreciate your research work and efforts utilized in creating this article.

  2. Kandice

    August 23, 2013 at 9:45 am

    That’s why i always use blackberry, i also love Iphone, but i trust BB’s safety.

  3. Anushha

    August 23, 2013 at 11:16 am

    I never knew that our smartphones were prone to this much of cyber attack. Got a number of vital clues from this post. Thanks a lot for the share.

  4. Peter

    August 25, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    Phones ARE vulnerable, they really are to viruses. Some time ago I was unable to open opera with my Galaxy S2, it’s weird and I still can’t, do you think that vivint can really help get rid of this?

  5. Julia Wattson

    October 1, 2013 at 11:53 am

    Either it’s Blackberry or Apple IPhone, you must be very careful while using internet. You should follow measures given above in this article. This article is for those people who think that they are using Apple or Blackberry and no one can steal their information. They are making fool of themselves.

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