Smartphones are quickly becoming a common part of the average
person’s arsenal of gadgets. From banking information and contacts to
personal documents and family photos, these devices are a treasure trove
of goodies for hackers and identity thieves. While virus and malware
scanners have become a common part of computer use, their entry into the
portable device arena is still relatively new. These tips will keep
your phone secure and help you decide if malware or virus protection
apps are right for you.
Threats to Mobile Security
While there are very few self-distributing or traditional viruses for
Android, iOS or Windows Mobile, there are plenty of security threats to
be concerned about. From keystroke and data loggers to those that send
SMS messages to premium numbers without your knowledge, these apps can
cause trouble once they are installed. There is also the chance that
your phone might be lost or stolen. Without proper security, everything
on your phone will be accessible to the person who finds it.
Apps for Securing Your Phone
Since most Smartphone apps access only their own files, standalone
virus scanners do not offer much protection. Security suites, however,
can help identify potentially suspicious phone activity and allow you to
monitor what is occurring on your phone. Many of these apps also allow
you to remotely wipe or lock your phone and activate your GPS should you
lose the phone for any reason.
Top Rated Security Apps Include:
1. Lookout Security & Antivirus: This app is
available in both free and paid versions. While the free version takes
care of basic trojans and malware blocking for most devices, the paid
version adds advanced scanning for phishing attempts, data backup
features, remote GPS activation and remote phone wiping.
2. WebRoot SecureAnywhere Mobile: This suite
features full coverage for malware and viruses along with a number of
other useful features. Remote phone locking, GPS activation and data
wiping provides security in the event of phone loss. Advanced features,
such as connection viewing, call blocking and phishing detection
provided added control for those looking for a robust toolkit.
3. Sophos Mobile Security: For users looking for a
lightweight app, Sophos offers real-time scanning of all running apps
and app installations as well as in-depth on-demand scans of both the
phone’s internal memory and SD card.
Practices for Improving Phone Security
Though apps can help to prevent infection of your phone and identity
theft, the best way to avoid these issues is to use your phone in a safe
manner. These practices are easy to remember and can provide an
impressive level of security for your phone:
• Always check app permissions. While iOS users can
trust nearly every app on the official iTunes App Store, other mobile
app providers might not be as thorough in testing new apps. By checking
the permissions that an app requests before installing it on your phone,
you can avoid the majority of malware apps. For example, an
image-editing app requesting SMS rights or contact list access should
raise suspicion.
• Set a password on your phone. Whether you are
using a pin, pass phrase or touch gesture, adding this security is
enough to thwart many potential identity thieves should they obtain
physical access to your phone.
• Always download apps from trusted providers. Each
mobile OS has a dedicated app store. Purchasing through these stores is
often your safest method. While other sites may offer apps at lower
prices, they may contain malware or other surprising additions.
Michelle Lim, Post from: SiteProNews