Security for Smartphones
In an increasingly technology-driven and mobile world, our reliance on our smartphones is growing. They are getting smarter, sleeker and able to perform more and more actions that make them essential to the day to day running of our lives. We can run businesses from our phones, access and distribute funds from various banking apps and store databases. We put in private details without a thought, sending information out into the world that in other situations we keep completely confidential.
In fact, we now do everything that we would do on a computer or PC on a smartphone. Unfortunately, the majority of us also do this without any thoughts to security, and without any of the anti-virus software that should be a key feature of our desktop devices.
The truth is that hackers are now beginning to realise the possibilities that can be found through smartphone hacking. As the devices themselves become smarter and more fundamental to our lives, the hackers become more determined to breach what little defences there are and start to harvest the information within.
What is incredibly bewildering is that people don’t seem to consider their phones as vulnerable in the same they do their PC’s. What they likely forget is the vast array of confidential information that is shared through their phone. Passwords to apps that link to banks, social media accounts and numerous email inboxes. The kind of data that hackers simply love and can look to elicit from you. Not only will this information be shared, it will likely be backed up regularly too. A great practise, but no use at all if you aren’t protecting the data.
So what options are available? To rank the major manufacturers leads to some interesting results. The weakest of all phones for security are those produced by Android. Blackberry is slightly safer in terms of the scale, as are Windows phones who use security fixes in the same way a PC would. The outright winner though is IOS from Apple. Apple have greater control of their apps, meaning that they can monitor and filter what comes into and onto a phone.
You can, with a little effort, make big strides in protection yourself. Below is a list of steps you can take to protect your smartphone:
- Keep your phone’s firmware updated. Check whether you can get automatic updates and if not then regularly download them.
- Only install applications from a reputable source. Use your manufacturer’s app store, as these will verify the authenticity of an app on your behalf. Always read the small print though, to see what information is required from you before downloading.
- Delete all messages from unknown sources. They may contain links to webpages or for applications that contain malware. Even if you have no intention of clicking the link, still delete. Hitting the link by accident is the perfect way for a hacker to gain access to your system.
- Only ever use a secure Wi-Fi network. If it isn’t secure, then it could be a way for a hacker to intercept your data when you do attempt to get online. Using your own data allowance is always safer. This doesn’t involve you sending information over a public network, an area where bank account and financial details can be easily swiped.
- Install and use a trustworthy anti-virus app. You would for your computer, so don’t forget your phone.
Protecting your smartphone is becoming an increasingly important task. Don’t let something that offers such amazing opportunities the ability to cause irreparable damage. Protect your phone.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help against cyber attack 0844 586 0040
