Currently smartphone systems are considerably safe, but we must remember that they are also in the hands of the most lay people in terms of technology, so it is important to pay attention to some details to avoid problems, check out:
It is not new that users are aware of the numerous attacks that can make them victims of cybercriminals. When it comes to the security of our connected devices, it is essential to protect them from simple things, such as their usage habits, and to be aware of the different methods that criminals use to trick users and infect devices.
One of the reasons why Android users are more exposed is because the system allows the installation of applications from any source in a simpler way, not just from the official store (as in iOS). According to a Kaspersky Lab investigation, 83% of Android applications have access to their owners’ confidential data, and 96% of these applications can be launched without consent.
“We cannot deny that cybercriminals are very creative and, therefore, users cannot facilitate, even indirectly, these scams, providing more information than they should.«, Warns Thiago Marques, security analyst at Kaspersky Lab.»Many do not research the app and only download it because it is high. That’s why you need to get more and more information, understand how heavy that app is and if it really is necessary to download it”, Reinforces.
Thinking about it, Kaspersky Lab has separated some tips so that users are not victims of their own attitudes and avoid as much as possible falling into scams:
1. How to download a secure app?
Google has an entire department dedicated to verifying apps that end up on Google Play. However, the malware still manages to pass over now and then. Still, the risk of lowering a
infected application directly from the official store is much smaller than from any other source;
2. Just download and go?
Before downloading, try to find out more details about the application description and about the creators, as well as other work they have done;
3. The app is rated 10. What is the problem?
An app with high marks is good, useful and probably safer, so stay tuned. A high score is not everything and ratings need to appear consistent, written by people of truths and not bots, including negative ones – cybercriminals sometimes use Trojans to improve app ratings. Also, look at the number of users, apps with millions of downloads are less likely to be malware;
4. What does your app need to know about you?
From the permissions system, the user can control how much freedom an application will have. For example, does your new app really need access to your camera? What about your microphone? The most common dangers involve the ability of applications to steal your data (location, contacts, personal files) and perform certain operations such as taking pictures, recording audio, videos, sending messages, among others. According to Kaspersky Lab, approximately 40% of people in Latin America admit that they do not check the permissions of their pre-installed mobile applications on their Android and iOS devices, and 15% of them do not check the permissions when downloading or
install new applications on your mobile devices;
5. Less is more.
This phrase applies in the online world too, since the fewer applications the user has on their device, the less likely they are to have
damage;
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6. “The last time I updated…”
The more up-to-date the operating system and application versions are, the less security problems the user will face on their device. Therefore, updates should be regular. “More than having technology to their advantage, users need to be aware of the dangers that are in the online world to avoid them and the best ways to protect themselves”, Says Marques;
7. Double dose security.
Two-factor authentication is a feature offered by several online service providers that add an additional layer of security to the account login process, requiring the user to provide two forms of authentication. The first way – in general – is your password. The second factor can be anything, depending on the service. The most common of cases, is an SMS or a code that is sent to an email;
8. My password is 1234.
“There is no way for users to guarantee security if they don’t start with great protection like a strong password”, Reinforces Marques. “More obvious information such as date of birth, favorite singer, and others that are easy for anyone to know, should not be entered with passwords”. Therefore, for a password to be secure, it must be unique and complex; in particular, it must be at least 15 characters long and combine letters, numbers and special characters – which makes it difficult for cybercriminals to guess;
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9. Oops, Wi-Fi without a password.
Make sure your Internet connection is secure. When connecting to a public website using a public Wi-Fi network, you have no direct control over your security. Therefore, you may prefer to use a VPN, to at least be in control of where your data is going, such as Kaspersky Secure Connection, when you have doubts about the security of the Wi-Fi network. This tool prevents the interception of information, because it encrypts all data sent and received on the network. It is essential not to make online purchases or bank transactions while connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
Stay tuned in your behavior as a user, your security starts with yourself!
