Cyber Threats – How to Keep Your Mobile Devices Safe
It is no secret that the mobile phones we use today make us a target for cyber-attacks and viruses if unprotected. Many fraudsters still rely on old-fashioned phone scams to con innocent people.
Though phone scams have existed since the inception of landlines, the increased usage of smartphones has provided many more opportunities to attract fraudsters constantly seeking ways to make money illegally.
Scam callers commonly pose as representatives of government agencies or known tech, retail, travel, or financial companies, supposedly calling to obtain important information from you. Fraudsters might also impersonate charitable organizations or even your grandchildren, playing on family bonds to extort money.
Our phones are a treasure trove of personal and professional information and a potential target for hackers and cybercriminals that want access to sensitive information. We use our devices to make purchases, log into accounts and banking services, access sensitive documents, and even store photos and videos of our special moments. As such, it’s essential to keep our information safe and secure.
By following the tips outlined below, you can rest easy knowing your personal and professional information is safe and secure.
How to Detect a Phone Scam?
Unsolicited calls from people pretending to be government agents, public utility major tech firms, or charitable agents, especially after natural disasters are usually scams. These companies will rarely make a cold call to you unless they have communicated by other means beforehand.
Call pitching products, services, or other offers that sound too good to be true. Common ones include free product trials, medical devices, cheap travel packages, and low-risk, high-return investments.
How to Keep Your Mobile Devices Safe
- Keep Your Device Locked
One of the most critical steps in keeping your information safe is to secure your device with a passcode or biometric recognition like a fingerprint scanner or facial recognition. Setting up a passcode with a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols can help keep your data secure.
- Set Strong Passwords
Setting strong and secure passwords on mobile applications makes it harder for hackers to break them.Set different passwords for each app so if one password is compromised, the hacker won’t be able to access other apps.
- Download with caution
When downloading applications, make sure you use official app stores and check reviews of each app. It is common for cybercriminals to create fake mobile apps mimicking authentic brands to steal confidential user information.
- Keep the Operating System Updated
Mobile phone operating system (OS) updates are there for a reason – to improve user experience. It is important to frequently update the devices with the latest version of the OS. It helps in protecting both iOS and Android devices from bugs or other holes that make devices vulnerable.
- Avoid Jailbreaking
People often ‘jailbreak’ or ‘root’ their phone devices to have access to third-party applications other than the ones available on the official app stores. It seems tempting to access unlimited apps, but it brings a greater risk to phone devices. These apps are not vetted and can easily hack your phone and steal information.
- Install Security Software
Installing anti-virus or any security software protects the device from malware and detects and deletes other harmful viruses. Especially in the case of financial transactions via phone, security software prevents data breaches and loss of information.
How to Avoid Phone Scams?
- Do not answer unknown callers
It is recommended not to entertain unknown caller IDs, especially from unknown service providers. If you are interested in the services provided , research the company’s reputation.
- Hang up on robocalls
If an unknown company has contacted you via robocall – it’s illegal. Do not press any button to speak with an agent, nor press any button to be removed from the calling list. This may result in more robocalls.
- Get a call-blocking app
These apps help to block unknown numbers from reaching your phone, even if you switch to a new number.
- Do not disclose personal information
Do not confirm any information such as account numbers, house address, ownership of any asset, or computer usage.
- Record the call
Ask basic questions such as who is calling, the address, etc. you will be surprised to see the number of cold calls hang up on you on inquiry. If the call is disconnected, it may be a scam.
Conclusion
Many people are unaware of the risks they are exposed to while using mobile phones and other computer devices. You cannot control a cyber attacker, but you can take action to protect your identity and personal information from getting stolen. We hope the tips mentioned in this article were helpful. If you have further queries feel free to contact us.
Note:
We have a team of professionals who investigate fraud cases thoroughly and provide detailed analysis with documents necessary to report a scam or fraud to higher authorities. We aim to evaluate each case with full attention and resolve them in a manner that the victim gets closure as soon as possible.
