Top 4 Cyber Risks On Your Android Phones And How to Minimize Them

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Today, smartphones come with advanced capabilities such as those found in PCs (personal computers) and laptops and are now appearing more in people’s pockets, briefcases, and purses. People are now using their phones for a number of activities and even storing sensitive data in them including passwords, email, contact information, and calendars. Social networking mobile apps carry a wealth of personal data. What’s more, recent innovations in eCommerce have made it possible for users to conduct various transactions from their smartphones, including banking, paying at cash registers, redeeming tickets and coupons, and buying goods and apps over wireless networks.

The smartphone’s popularity and it’s relatively lenient security has made these gadgets attractive to hackers. Attackers are now exploiting this growing market by using both old and new techniques. In this article, we will look at some of the cybersecurity vulnerabilities that android users experience and how to mitigate them. Keep reading!

Cyber Risks on Android

Malware and spyware

Short for mobile adware, madware is a program installed on your smartphone, usually without your consent to collect your data to perfectly target you with ads. What’s more, madware generally comes attached with spyware, which collects data based on your online habits and sends it to third parties who use it to send you ads. Anyway, being bombarded with advertisements should be the least of your concerns when you are dealing with spyware. This program also collects data about your internet usage, your contacts, and even your location, which makes it a danger to both you and everyone you know.

Viruses and Trojans 

Your smartphone can also, be attacked by viruses and Trojans.

These come attached to what seems like legitimate programs. They later hijack your mobile phone and mine your data including your banking information. 

Trojans and viruses are also known to send premium messages that cost users a lot of money.

 

Phishing and grayware apps

Phishing apps come looking like real apps, and the smartphone’s smaller screen makes it more challenging to tell the difference. 

In the past, hackers would send emails that looked legit, and then they would ask for personal data like your password, hoping that you’d be unsuspicious and respond to it. Today, these hoax apps secretly collect the data you input, including passwords, bank account numbers, and much more.

While Grayware apps aren’t entirely malicious, they can be worrisome as they often make users vulnerable to privacy risks. 

Unsecure Wi-Fi

Why would you want to use your own cellular data when there are free wireless hotspots available—but public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured and using them means your social media, VoIP conversations, and even your PayPal could be compromised. To ensure your safety, use public Wi-Fi sparingly and never access personal or confidential services while on these networks. You can also download one of the VPNs for Android devices and use it to connect to any unsecured network.

How to Minimize Mobile Security Threats

●   Download apps from legit app stores such as Apple App and Google Play stores as these two vets the apps on their platform; the same thing cannot be said about third-party app stores. 

●    Before installing any app, ensure you read the end-user agreement and the fine print to understand what the app is about.

●    Install a firewall to ensure much stronger protection against cyber threats and also to shield your online privacy.

●    Ensure your software is up to date

 

 

●         Consider installing security software to your phone to protect from malware and riskware

While smartphones have taken up more functionality that was meant for computers, these devices have not kept pace with conventional computer security. Unfortunately, many phone users fail to recognize these shortcomings, rendering their smartphones vulnerable to cyber-attacks. By taking a few common-sense precautions such as enabling security software in your phone, installing a firewall, and ensuring that you download apps from well-known app stores, you can protect yourself from various smartphone security threats.

 Thanks for reading this post.

Guest post

Special Thanks for the Guest Post  by  Techwarn  

and we say thanks for an amazing post about Cyber Risks on Your Android Phones and do follow this thing to make sure your android device work as good as it should be, cause you to know how terrible it will be if saved credit info or passwords of your own and more that could harmful to you from just little handy mobile phones. you don't wanna....then just follow.

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