Phone Security
For many people their smartphone is indispensable for day-to-day tasks. Nowadays we have got used to using our smartphone to browse online, purchase and pay for goods and services, chat, share files, and even control all sorts of device through the phone. While all this convenience is undoubtably amazing and highly advantageous, there is also another aspect to consider. Ever imagined what would happen if your phone got hacked? Chances are that, like many others, you barely ever thought of this. Phone security is not something many tend to ponder upon. Yet, there are many threats out there and your phone could be very vulnerable to anyone or more of such malicious apps.
So, it is important to try to understand these risks to be more well prepared and avoid falling victim to such hacks. We all use all kinds of applications on our phones, but do you take the time to make sure that the app you are downloading and using is legitimate and safe? While there are many legitimate apps, it is also worth noting that even these can be exploited by criminals.
One of the most common ways to get attacked is through a trojan which is hidden in an app. In such cases the victim downloads the malicious app on the phone, and without bothering simply grants access to other apps and functions on the phone as well as sensitive data such as text messages. The hacker can essentially spy on you by using the camera and microphone as well as access your messages, contacts and other data stored in the phone. Private data can thus be easily collected and the hacker can make use of it as he likes. This includes stealing money from your bank account, and using any log in details you usually utilize to do anything and everything you generally do through your phone.
So as you can see it is very important to be careful when you download an app. And, even if you feel confident that the app is legitimate, you need to pay extra attention to the permissions you grant. Broad permissions are very risky. Be careful and think twice before accepting, as in many cases there is no need to grant permission to certain functions to be able to use an app effectively.
Another critical aspect with regards to phone security is the fact that regular updates are very important. In case you use outdated versions of your mobile operating system, there is a good chance that there are security bugs which could be exploited by malware. This basically enables such apps to gain system privileges, and sensitive data such as logins, passwords and so on can easily be stolen.
Phone security issues also involve connectivity aspects. Those who connect with a router that is being used by several others, are risking their safety. Besides the possibility of having the wi-fi router being hacked, there is also the problem that many apps are not protected in such a scenario. So be careful of untrusted internet connections as your phone is at risk of being accessed by hackers.