Preventing Mobile Cyber Attacks

October 25, 2021

Did you know that 40% of all mobile devices are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and exploits?

As smartphones and tablets become increasingly common in the workplace, hackers aren’t necessarily just using your device to infect it with malware, but also to infect devices on the same network as you.

In this post, we share a few helpful tips to help you stay secure when using your mobile devices.

Apps

Applications are the lifeblood of a smartphone. However, not all are created equal. Make sure you are only installing apps that are available through your dedicated App Store. Depending on your device, this would either be Google Play for Android or Apple App Store for iPhones.

Wi-Fi

Set your applications to automatically update to ensure they have the latest security. If your wireless carrier is limiting the amount of data you are allowed to use on a monthly basis, consider turning on the feature that will only update your applications if you are connected to Wi-Fi. You can even set a schedule for when you know you’ll be home.

Browsers

The browser on your smartphone works the same way as it would on a desktop PC or a laptop. You should never save a username or password inside of a browser. If you are someone that is juggling a lot of different accounts like a lot of people today, consider using a password manager.

Pay close attention to URLs. Just like when you’re browsing the web on a laptop or desktop, you always want to make sure that you’re on the correct site before inserting any information.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a pretty simplified connection method. However, there are still ways to secure yourself from attacks associated with it. Turning off automatic Bluetooth pairing is an effortless way to prevent someone from illegitimately accessing your device. Also, if you’re not using Bluetooth, it is best to just turn it off completely. This will help protect from unwanted connections.

Vishing (voice phishing)

Spam calls are becoming extremely common on a day-to-day basis. How do we protect ourselves from people pretending to be someone they aren’t? Make sure you do not reveal any personal information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure who that person is. If you are hesitant, it is best to just hang up and call the direct number of the company or person in question. Also, be wary of urgency as scammers will try tricking you into thinking that this must happen now. I can assure you it doesn’t.

Smishing (phishing via SMS)

Text messaging is becoming the most popular communication method between individuals. This just means that more people will start using this form of communication for malicious intent. Never click links or respond. The messages sent from unknown recipients always go directly to the source. Also, standard text messages are not encrypted if nonpublic information is being requested, it is best to use another form of communication to provide these details.

I hope that these quick tips on mobile device security have been helpful. Remember, it is important to stay just as vigilant on your mobile devices as you are on your desktop PC.

If you would like to learn more about our Managed IT and Cybersecurity Services, please feel free to reach out. We would be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation to learn how we can help you operate more securely and meet compliance regulations.