Hacking has become a problem on a global scale. It can take on many forms, from large-scale attacks that cause millions in damage to microphishing schemes which prey upon the most vulnerable internet users – but this type is not immune to your phone being infected and mining all its data without you even suspecting anything amiss.
What should we do? How do I know if my mobile device has been compromised by malware or some other form of cybercrime? How do we protect ourselves?
To detect a virus on your Android, you should take the following measures:
- Install antivirus software and update it regularly. Make sure to check for updates at least once every week. Scan all files that land in your phone’s storage system. Also, if possible, install an anti-spam app that can filter out emails from untrusted sources before they reach their destination – this way you will not give away access to potentially harmful attachments or links found within them by accident.
- Consider backing up data stored on your device onto Google Drive (or other cloud services) so that no matter what happens with the original file, you’ll always have another copy saved elsewhere and won’t lose anything.
Where your mobile can get infected
Be aware of what you’re clicking on and downloading, especially if it’s sent to you by an unknown source or via email, as this is often how most viruses spread around – through .exe files attached to emails that users open without knowing they are harmful. The same goes for apps downloaded from untrusted sources (as opposed to Google Play). If in doubt about the safety of a file or app that asks for permission before proceeding with installation, do not use it. Remember that any code meant to be executed runs with your phone’s administrator rights; thus even low-level malware could potentially destroy your phone completely.
Never click on suspicious links or emails sent to you, even if the sender is someone from whom you would expect a message – scammers frequently use fake email addresses and names of real people in order to trick users into sharing personal information with them. Finally, be wary of third-party app stores as they can contain malicious apps pretending to offer legit software – only download programs from official sources.
Ensure that you have an antivirus program on your phone in order to prevent viruses from accessing all of those user data. Cell phones can be especially vulnerable because they’re always with us, but don’t worry- there are plenty of ways for a vigilant consumer like yourself stay protected! Be sure not download new apps without doing research first and watch out if something seems fishy about their performance or behavior patterns; these could point towards malware being present within the system already so take caution when deciding to add a new application onto your device. If you’re on an Android, be sure that you have some kind of antivirus software installed in order to prevent viruses from accessing all of the user data on your phone.