How to protect your phone from hackers/viruses
In an era where mobile devices have become indispensable tools for communication and connectivity, the rise of cyber threats targeting these devices is a growing concern.
According to a report by Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, the META region witnessed a significant 22 percent increase in mobile threats detected in 2023 compared to the previous year.
These threats, ranging from adware to spyware and mobile banking trojans, exploit various baits to lure unsuspecting users into downloading malicious apps. While adware can behave in a seemingly harmless way, it can spam a user with ads, drain battery, or even get access to sensitive data.
Spyware – specifically, CanesSpy, a Trojan active in the META region – can steal data from an infected smartphone, a list of contacts and user account information on the device, documents, and also record from the device’s microphone upon command.
As individuals increasingly rely on their smartphones for personal and professional activities, understanding and safeguarding against these threats have become imperative.
To protect yourself from mobile threats, it is recommends that:
1. Download apps only from official stores like Apple AppStore, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore.
Apps from these markets are not 100% failsafe, but at least they get checked by the moderators and there is some filtration system — not every app can get onto these stores.
It’s worth looking through user reviews of an app to see if there is any negative feedback on its functionality.
2. Check the permissions of apps that you use and think carefully before permitting an app, especially when it comes to high-risk permissions such as Accessibility Services.
3. A reliable mobile security solution like Kaspersky Premium can help you detect malicious apps and adware before they start behaving badly on your device.
4. Update your operating system and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing updated versions of software.
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