MIAMI – With the increase of interconnectedness between apps and smartphones comes an aggressive proliferation of malware, cyber security experts said.
There are fraudsters out there exploiting mobile messaging users and they are looking for their next opportunity. Trojan horses, viruses, worms and spyware can hide in adult content, freebies and payday loan scams.
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There is plenty of creativity in targeted personalization and public social media posts offer inspiration. Fake age verification sites marketed to online dating app users increased in popularity during 2014, according to Symantec experts.
While there are plenty of security features available, cyber security experts suggest mobile phone users rely on their smarts and move with caution to avoid being victimized. Think before you download.
Here are 10 tips to reduce vulnerability:
1. To avoid text spam, iPhone users have a feature to block the caller. Android users need to use third-party SMS blocking apps. Find out if your service provider uses the text 7726 to block the sender. The e-mail "phishing" scam became known as the "smishing" scam when it moved over to using SMS. Source: Malwarebytes Unpacked >
2. Avoid responding to messages inviting you to participate in competitions to win a free prize, a discount or a bargain. There is not such thing as the Apple iPhone Lottery 2015. Users have been falling for this scam for years. You can file a complaint online with the FCC. Source: Federal Trade Commission >
3. WhatsApp users need to watch out for alleged WhatsApp Voice Calls or WhatsApp Spy upgrades that lead you to connect to third-party services charging astronomical fees. The only way to get a legitimate upgrade is through the Google Play apps or Apple apps stores. Source: Panda Security >
4. Remember the cyber-spammer is trying to get you to visit their site and to install apps. Social engineering used via e-mail moved to SMS. Look at the end of the URL before you click and be careful when clicking on hyperlinks. If you are suspicious of a tiny url, you can use URL X-Ray to check it. Source: We Live Security >
5. Think of your phone as a computer that can be vulnerable to exploits. Hackers need pass codes unlocked to perform jailbreaks that weaken security. Upgrade your iOS as soon as possible. Use a secret question and fingerprint security to avoid being vulnerable to a hacker's "silent" app. Don't save your bank log in information and other sensitive data on your phone. Avoid using the same password you use to access networks for your personal accounts. Source: Action Fraud >
6. Charges may mysteriously appear on your phone bill, so keep on eye on the detailed usage report. There are websites that allow people to type in your phone number and subscribe you to $10 a month "joke of the day" text messaging. Source: About Tech >
7. Don't respond to unsolicited messages that seem to be coming from Google and are requesting your personal information. Fraudsters like using the popular brand. There is the Google Lotto Scam, the Google Wallet Vehicle purchase scam, the Google account recovery scam and the Google AdSense scam. Source: Google Support >
8. Due to a software weakness, there is a new way to turn off iPhone messaging capabilities with a simple message a Reddit user shared. The best way to avoid this is to go to settings, then notifications and messages to change the settings on notifications. Source: Reddit >
9. The majority of the malware targets Android users, but there are new variants targeting both Android and iPhone iOS. Some of the most popular security products for mobile phones include Avast, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Kapersky and Webroot.
10. Keep track of all of the apps you have given permission to have access to your camera, microphone and photographs. Remember the access puts you at risk. On iPhones, disabling notifications while on lock screen and disabiling Siri and the "AutoFill" feature can also help protect your data. Source: iOS security guide >
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