Should You Take Mobile Security Seriously? Here Is Why

Gone are the days when the biggest security threats only existed on your computer. Most people think that a cell phone can be a safe space for personal, financial as well as confidential data. However, nowadays with the extensive use of cell phones for literally everything from payments to meetings to personal usage, mobile phone security can not be taken as a joke anymore.

The virtual age has increased the use of cell phones leading to an uptick in mobile security threats now more than ever. Individuals, as well as enterprises, have to be more diligent than ever to protect their private and financial data. Cell phones are susceptible to spyware that run silently in the background monitoring every action, phishing private data, and exposing your phone to several viruses.

As a professional or even as an average respectable person, the last thing you want is an embarrassing security breach that may end up with your private data published for the world to see. While securing mobile devices is no herculean task, it goes beyond merely putting a strong password or learning the basics of mobile security.

Adapting better security practices and installing a trustable cybersecurity mechanism like those offered by Bitdefender should be your first steps towards securing your private data. Here are the types of threats that can compromise your phone’s security:

• App-based threats: Downloading apps left and right may seem convenient and legit but in reality, many apps tend to skim data from the device. Malicious apps ask for a list of permissions before one can download them and these permissions aid the apps to access files on your cell-phone. This can further lead hidden spyware and malware inside your device which may steal personal and business information without you realising.
• Web/Online threats: These subtle data breaches tend to go unnoticed. Web-based threats can occur when people visit suspicious sites which may seem normal but tend to automatically download malicious content on your devices.
• Network threats: These kinds of threats occur when you connect to a public WiFi network. Access to unsecured WiFi is becoming widely available in public places, this allows cybercriminals to steal unencrypted data while people are connected to public networks.
• Physical threats: Lost or stolen cell phones is not an uncommon story and this story does not have a pleasant end. Even though it may seem like a small threat but in actuality, it can lead to issues as grave as hackers stealing your identity. All your data can be exposed to hackers in such a situation and they can directly access your hardware where private data is stored. This physical threat is especially dangerous to individuals as well as business.

Why You Should Care About Cell Phone Security?

All these threats plus other cybersecurity threats like lack of end-to-end encryption, spyware, malware, IoT mobile security threats and many more linger in your phone. These threats have the capability of exposing all your personal, professional and financial data to the world or even worse, to hackers of all sorts.

Thus, it becomes imperative to secure your cell phone and have the right knowledge about cell phone security. In this scenario, a trusted product like Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android can help you secure your device and help gain the right knowledge about doing so.

Cell phones have literally all your data that is exactly what attackers are after. Hackers want access to your phones so they can use their processing chips to mine cryptocurrencies or other financial information. They are after your identities and accounts that can pose a serious risk to your image. Mobile phishing attacks that use texts and emails to trick users into clicking on malicious URLs are also a major threat. Before you panic, here are a couple of things you can keep in mind while taking your cell phone security lightly:

• Understand mobile security threats: Having a basic knowledge and awareness about cyber-threats and cell phone security breaches can help you stay cautious about them.
• Installing security software for your cell phone: It is a simple and basic practice that can save you a lot of unnecessary trouble.
• Read App terms and conditions: Before accepting cookies and agreeing to all the terms and conditions give them a read. It may sound like an unnecessary and tedious job but this is essential to save yourself from spying devices in this era of geolocation.
• Delete the Apps you don’t use: Every App can be infected may pose a threat to your data. Sometimes Apps that become stagnant and do not get updated in the app store become more vulnerable to hacking attempts.
• Avoid using public WiFi networks: Everything that is free may not be good and you should always keep this in mind while using public WiFi networks as a lot of data breaches occur through that.

Conclusion

All in all, it is essential to keep in mind that hackers have their eyes on your devices and with cell-phone usage being more widespread than ever, it is the prime target for hackers. While all this might seem scary, securing your phone and protecting your data is no herculean task. However, it is an absolute necessity in today’s virtual world.