We hear news about ways our personal information is being compromised as a result of a data breach. Unfortunately, unsecured apps could be one reason. There are a number of apps masked as malware. These apps are being used to commit click fraud or sell user data to third parties in exchange for money.
You need to be careful when you are using your Frontier Internet service on your smartphone. There is no way to tell if the app you are about to download is free from malware or not. If that’s so, then how can a user protect his data from such unsecured apps?
Security experts have revealed some tips that can keep your personal data secure. Here they are:
Download Apps from Official Stores
Even though there is no guarantee that the apps on the Google Play Store and App Store are not 100% trustworthy, it is still best to download them from here. These apps have met the standard quality of data protection. If you are downloading an app from a website that is less reputable, chances are you are putting your personal data at risk.
Apps that are downloaded from unofficial websites or insecure sources are vulnerable to malware, ransomware, Trojan, and spyware. If you end up downloading them, you could give hackers complete control of your device.
Keep Your Software Up To Date
Software updates are like vaccination for your phone. It keeps your device and data save. It’s like you are being one step ahead of the hackers.
Cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to hack into your device and steal your data. Therefore, you must make sure that your smartphone is up to date. It’s best if you adjust the setting of your phone to automatically update the operating system. This way, you won’t forget authorizing updates.
Use a VPN on Public Wi-Fi
We all are attracted to use public Wi-Fi. When you are using the public network, you have to be particularly careful about keeping the data in your smartphone safe. So, whenever you are about to use public Wi-Fi, use a VPN. This will keep your data safe. All your data transmissions will be masked. But don’t just use any VPN. Look for a reputed provider and make sure you download their app from Play Store or App Store.
It is important that you read the service agreement of the VPN to make sure you know what data is being collected and where it’s stored.
Be Mindful Of App Permissions
Always double-check the app permissions before agreeing to them. When an app seeks permission to access your GPS data, contact list, pictures, etc. that means it is using your data. It is best you withdraw as many app permissions as possible in the settings of your phone.
Make sure you ask yourself if it actually makes sense for the app to ask for certain permissions. In case the app is asking access such data that is not relevant to its function, this is a sign it’s an unsecured app. For instance, a pocket calculator should not be asking you to access your location or contact list.
After granting permission, you must monitor how your phone behaves once you have downloaded the app. Does it drain your battery? If so that’s a red flag because malicious apps often run in the background. They have to upload the user’s data repeatedly.
Don’t Install Suspicious Apps
New apps are entering the market almost every other day. You don’t have to download and use all of them. Unless an app has a significant number of reviews on the app store, don’t install them.
Practice Good Password Hygiene
Most of the apps we use require us to log in before using. Therefore, it’s imperative that you keep the passwords secure. First things first, you need a strong password.
You can stay secure by using a password management app. These apps also have tools that let you generate a unique and strong password. The best thing about password managers is that you don’t have to remember all the passwords. You will just have to remember the password of this app.
Train Your Employees
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture can put precious data of workplaces at risk. For a small business, it is practically impossible to prevent the non-company owned devices from accessing the company’s network. So, employees are going to access sensitive content on the same device they use Facebook from. Hackers can use personal apps as a gateway to not just download malicious content, but steal sensitive information from the company’s server. Instead of ending the BYOD culture, train your employees about online security.
The only way you can protect your data is if you are careful with what apps you are installing and from where. Follow these best practices to stay out of trouble. Put the same kind of heed into using apps as you put when you are buying Frontier bundles.
