If you are using a mobile phone, you would be familiar with various apps. While the popular ones have enough security measures, the lesser known ones may not have the proper security features. In this regard, there are chances of your personal data getting leaked while using such apps. You need to be extra careful if you are using apps from unverified sources. When there is some vulnerability in the code, hackers can gain access to the apps and procure user data. For this reason, you need to follow the tips given in this article to stay safe while using mobile apps.
Always choose apps from reliable sources
Make sure that the apps you use are from trusted sources. If it is blocked on trusted platforms, you should not be over enthusiastic to download such apps from other sources. There must be a reason why some apps are blocked on trusted platforms. That does not mean that all the apps on trusted platforms are safe to use. You must exercise caution while using any app on your mobile phone. There is a serious threat of data leakage when the code is compromised due to vulnerabilities.
Read the reviews before downloading the apps
Not every person has the technical ability to assess the security features of the apps. In this regard, the simple thing you can do is to check the reviews before downloading the apps. In this way, you will be able to stay away from malicious apps if other users have given negative reviews after using such apps. The reviews for almost all apps are available online and reading them will give you some idea about the pros and cons of using those apps on your mobile phone.
Do not fall for fake versions of popular apps
There are clone versions of many popular apps running in the market. It is not possible to block every app that comes as a clone to the popular apps. In this situation, you need to cross check the apps before downloading them to your mobile phone. Many people may get trapped into downloading such fake apps and this will allow the hackers to access your personal data. Such data can later be used for cyber fraud and identity theft.
Check the permissions you are providing while installing apps
When you are installing any app, the app will ask your permission for accessing the folders and data in your mobile phone. Make sure to check what permissions you are giving while installing the apps. In this way, if you notice any suspicious activity, you can deny the permission and stop the installation process. Some apps ask for accessing your camera and photos even when there is no need for such provisions. Be careful while giving such permissions as it may lead to data leakage in the future.
Monitor the battery usage regularly
The easiest way to notice some unwanted activity going on in your mobile phone is to analyze the battery usage on a regular basis. If you notice that your battery is getting drained without using it too much, you should not take it easily as this may be an indication of some malicious program running in the background. The same doubt should arise when your phone becomes too slow to handle regular processes. In this situation, you can uninstall the suspicious programs and install a suitable security program to protect your data.
Check the internet usage on your phone
When malicious programs collect data from your mobile phone, they use the internet to transfer such data to the desired location. In this regard, you can try to catch suspicious activity by monitoring the internet usage of your mobile phone. If your phone is consuming too much bandwidth for no reason, there is reason to be worried as some malicious program may be sending your data to another system.
Never send confidential information over communication apps
Do not take communication apps for granted as even the biggest apps may have security vulnerabilities. Avoid sending confidential information like passwords and banking information through such apps. In this way, you can stay safe from cyber fraud even if the personal data in your phone is hacked by malicious programs.
Avoid storing personal pictures on your phone
Many people are careless when it comes to storing their personal pictures. If you take pictures regularly on your mobile phone, transfer them to a safe place and delete the old pictures. There are many advantages of doing this as your space is saved and your data is also secured. When your phones are hacked, most hackers look for personal information, financial information and your personal pictures. They can be misused by the hackers and there are instances when hackers have blackmailed the users to pay money for not publishing their private pictures online.
Considering these threats, it makes sense to avoid using your mobile phone as a storage facility for your personal photos. There are better options available and you can even store them in a simple flash drive and keep it safe at home.
Install a good antivirus and malware protection program
When it comes to dealing with mobile app security, the developers also rely on several third party security programs. In this way, they use anti-malware and anti-virus programs to improve the security of the apps. However, these will be limited only to the app and it may not protect your phone from every app installed in your phone.
In this situation, it makes sense to install a good antivirus and anti-malware program on your mobile phone. Even though this comes at a cost, it is worth choosing such programs as they protect you from various online threats. In this manner, you can safeguard your personal data from hacking attempts and malicious programs. Such security programs block access to unsafe apps and they check the security threats of the apps while you are installing them on your phone. You can easily get access to such security programs in the market and use them to secure the phone from online threats.
