All over the world, cybercrimes are growing as people are depending on digital platforms for everything in life. With the proliferation of mobile devices and apps, cybercriminals are enjoying more avenues to attack their prey and forcefully manipulate and breach data that can be utilized for identity theft, financial scams, larger security attacks, terrorism, and others.
With such rising rates of cyber crimes and cyber attacks, the smartphone users and the frequent users of digital platforms are more concerned than ever before about preventing cyber attacks, malicious data breaching efforts, unsolicited access to data, and hacking.
How can one safeguard mobile apps and devices from cybersecurity threats? Well, based on the tried and tested measures that have been successful, here we are going to explain the most notable cybersecurity threats and the ways to prevent them.
Key Cyber Security Attacks and Issues for Mobile Users
Many of the cyber threats that face mobile devices are simply the mobile version of threats that face desktop computers. Still, it’s helpful to review these threats and some of the ways the attacks are customized for mobile devices.
- Mobile Malware or Ransomware
Mobile malware offers a big threat to the smartphone users as they can breach the data security p, mess up with authentication data, or just can infect and lock the device. When a device is locked by infectious ransomware, all your data are held against a demanded ransom that you have to pay to the criminal to access your data. Such ransomware can cause serious damage to all your device data as you can lose all your data including the call logs, contacts, messages, and photos.
Scareware is another type of malware commonly used to attack mobile users. Instead of actually holding all your device data against a ransom a pop-up message just scares you about virus infection and why you need to install an antivirus program to combat it. In most cases, the antivirus software advertised by the scareware as a safeguard itself works as the virus to infect a computer system and steal data.
- Spyware Attacks Through Downloads
Mobile devices are also attacked by malware that cannot be noticed or detected instantly. They just slyly gets into the system through a download or that can infiltrate a system while the user browses the web.
These types of malware are called spyware and they are one of the common security threats for smartphone users. From stealing personal data to accessing your passwords and location data, spyware can expose your device to multiple kinds of data security threats.
- Malware Ridden Apps
Since we have apps literally for everything and no app marketplace can review the security threats so deeply, even apps are created to inject malware into devices and steal data and hack user accounts. A simple game app can offer easy entertainment on the go but it can also be ridden with harmful malware.
Generally, apps loaded with malware always ask for user permission to access certain data for better user experience and once they obtain such permissions they actually start data mining resulting in commercial uses of the user data. Such scams widely known as data leakage can actually expose devices to big security risks.
- Phishing and Smishing
Phishing is one of the most frequently occurred cyber attacks that range from being very targeted to broader ones. The phishing attack most happens through malicious emails appearing to be professional or purposeful, but it contains malicious links after clicking which your identity information or account data can be hacked. Phishing emails are now a lot advanced and often detecting them as phishy is difficult.
Smishing is just the same type of attack that instead of sending malicious emails targets the users with a message loaded with malicious links. Obviously, smishing attacks are more targeted to mobile users while phishing attacks target users across all devices used for accessing emails.
- IoT Devices
Since the Internet of Things (IoT) devices connect multiple devices and user interfaces and facilitate smart automation by using user data, the hackers and malicious cybersecurity threats always target the connected IoT devices as soft targets in a network of devices.
- Security Threats From an Unverified Wi-Fi Connection
Users often get delighted with free Wi-Fi connections in public places. But such wi-fi connections accessed in public places are also considered to be potential security threats. All your browsing activities and data uses can be intercepted by hackers while using an unverified wi-fi connection.
What Kind of Security Measures Can You Take To Deal With Such Threats?
If you think being the victims of cybersecurity threats and attacks is only a matter of chance and you cannot do much to prevent them, you are terribly wrong. With due diligence and appropriate preventive as well as proactive measures you can always minimize the chances of such attacks and stay above security risks. As per the new security standards for web and mobile app development, here we present some preventive measures to ensure optimum security for mobile devices and apps.
- Use an Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software
Yes, in the same manner, you protect your computer with antivirus software, you can safeguard your mobile device from malicious attacks and hackers by just opting for a security application. Some mobile security software solutions also come equipped with password managers to keep your login and authentication data safe, protected, and accessible.
- Using Stronger Passwords
Hackers use sophisticated bots to break through the user authentication data and hence they can try millions of data combinations in minutes time. So, if you use easy to guess passwords for your app, it risks being found out by the bots. On the other hand, by using strong alphanumeric passwords that don’t follow any pattern or clues from your own life you can easily prevent such possibilities. Using a password manager is always helpful for safekeeping passwords and for easily access them in case of need.
- Updating The Device Software
Every subsequent software update for both iOS and Android always comes with security patches and crucial enhancements to make devices and data security better. If you do not avail of these updates when they are rolled out you are actually exposing your data to security threats.
- Keep All The Apps Updated
Like the device software, apps also come with frequent or timely updates to make security better. The security threats arising out of a mobile app can quickly get into the device system and can force compromising with data security. This is why it is extremely important to keep mobile apps updated to strengthen security. Generally, any reputed Android or iPhone app development company comes with timely updates for the app.
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Download Credible Apps With Maintenance and Support
Since there are many apps that continue to remain as the source of security threats for users of the respective platforms, you need to be cautious while downloading and installing any app. Before downloading make sure you have fine enough research on the app and its developers and make sure the app came with at least one update in the last 6 months and enjoys consistent support.
Conclusion
Prevention is always better than cure. This time-honored proverbial wisdom fits appropriately in the arena of cybersecurity. You can actually prevent all kinds of cyber threats and attacks on your mobile devices and apps by following these time-tested tips. But once your device has been attacked, you have very little defense to deal with the threat.
