Aside from their popularity, these devices are distinguished by lax in security, making them prone to cyber-attacks.
The number of users of mobile devices is growing year after year, and thus the need to secure these devices is escalating particularly custom application development.
These days, smartphones and mobiles have become vulnerable due to the rapid progress in the mobile app industry, and of course the introduction of cloud apps and services too. Simply put, mobile security has yet to reach the millions of users, in contrast to the progress in the overall usage of smart devices. Mobile security is protecting portable devices from a lot of threats and vulnerabilities around.
These days, every custom software development company is reinforcing its security measures when developing software and mobile app solutions to minimize the chance of hackers getting into the system of the products they are building. For mobile users, there are important things to keep in mind to safeguard their devices and phones from cybercriminals.
Safeguarding your Mobile Device
1. Be wary of software that you install
Before installation, a lot of apps require access to the camera of your mobile phone, as well as photos. The safest way to go is to avoid installing it since your device would become vulnerable to sensitive data theft and external tampering, not unless you trust the app’s creator.Make sure that the given permission matches the purpose of the application downloaded. Keep in mind that after you have installed it, you may or may not be able to change the permission.
2. Refrain from using modified smartphones or electronic devices
It’s possible for your mobile phone to be completely controlled externally when the restrictions imposed by the manufacturer have been removed to allow the installation of unauthorized software, known as ‘rooting’ for Android, and ‘jailbreak’ for iOS. Your phone could be used for cyber scams, criminal activities, or attacks without you knowing it.3. Never open suspicious URLs
When an invitation comes asking you to click on a URL to win a prize, or even a holiday in the next fifteen minutes, and your gut-feel is telling you that it seems too good to be true, then it’s more likely that it’s indeed too good to be true. Even if it looks as if sent by a friend, never click on links. Furthermore, don’t be pressured to make fast and possibly unsafe decisions.4. Don’t make sensitive transactions using public Wi-Fi
Several configured or improperly developed mobile apps could enable cyber attackers to tap on the same Wi-Fi network to detect and decode sensitive personal data accessed through your mobile phone. Even if you’re using a secure HTTPS connection, some apps may not be adequately validated, which could lead to web traffic intercepted by an attacker, sitting between you and the app’s servers.5. Set face recognition, PINs, fingerprint for device unlock
Set a phone lock if you haven’t done it already. There are instances that cyber attackers need not steal your phone to install malicious apps. Three minutes of unattended mobile device access is more than enough to transfer private information into an external web drive.6. Use an anti-malware solution that has a remote wipe function
When you install an anti-malware app in your device, you could wipe your personal data from it remotely in case it’s stolen, as soon as the device is switched on and online again.7. Refrain from using free Wi-Fi
When you connect to a public Wi-Fi in a shopping mall or restaurant or the free Wi-Fi network in a hotel, always check with the staff what the official free Wi-Fi’s name is. There could be cyber attackers sitting close by and could introduce fake Wi-Fi access points with the name of the network very close to the legitimate one.Fake Wi-Fi could ask you to provide your personal information, like your email addresses and passwords.
8. Never leave your mobile device with strangers for charging
When you leave your phone to charge at public places, there is a possibility that your data could be transferred to another device without you being aware of it. Using a power bank is a whole lot better instead of handing your mobile device over to unknown people, even if they’re friendly looking.9. Backup and secure data
It’s important to backup all data that are stored on your phone, like documents, contacts, and photos. The files could be stored on your computer, in a removable storage card or even in the cloud. This lets you restore your phone’s information should it get stolen, lost, or otherwise erased.10. Make certain that you have a security application
Today, downloading a mobile security app is a must. This app scans every application that you download for spyware and malware, and could help you in locating stolen or lost devices. Furthermore, make sure that the security application protects from websites that are unsafe.11. Report a stolen mobile device
You should report a stolen mobile device to the local law enforcement authorities and register the stolen phone with your wireless provider. This will give notice to all major wireless service providers that your phone has been stolen and would enable remote ‘bricking’ of the phone so it will not be activated on any wireless network without your permission.12. Check your mobile phone bill
Be alert on unusual behaviors on your device. This could be a sign that it’s infected. The behaviors could include suspicious charges to your bill, unusual text messages, or a sudden decrease in battery life.Conclusion
It’s true that mobile devices offer us so many conveniences. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the devices we have are susceptible and vulnerable cyber-attackers.With the right precautions, you get to keep your personal data and information safe from cyber criminals.
Many of us don’t have the time, resources, or knowledge to protect our identities. It is however important to bear in mind that it’s; not possible all the time to prevent all identity theft or fraud.
Thus, taking the steps you can and invest in some kind of protection is always the best option.
Mobile custom application development may be adhering to the stringent measures for the safety of mobile devices and apps, but we should also be aware and practice the safety measures all the time to safeguard our devices.
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