Top 6 tips you must know to protect your data from malicious app as hackers are recently using malicious app to hack data from mobile and converting the mobile as spying device. To know more read this article.
Introduction:
Now a day’s apps have become a necessary part of our life. Therefore, cyber hackers are trying to hack our data through malicious apps. When we install these malicious apps, some malware are injected into our mobile, to steal our data. Not only these malicious apps take our data but also it remotely uses our mobile as a spying device to record our conversation, location and take our picture. So now the urgency has come to know, how to protect our data from malicious apps because awareness can reduce our chance to be a victim of cyber crime.
1. Don’t allow apps from unknown source
Allowing apps from unknown sources will introduce many malicious apps into your mobile. As hackers are recently using malicious apps to hack data from mobile,please read our article" Hackers use malicious apps to hack data from mobile".So stop allowing automatic installation of unknown apps in your mobile by following the below steps.
Ø Go to Setting -> Security -> Device Administration; in this uncheck unknown sources which allow installation of apps from unknown sources.
Ø And check the verify apps, which will disallow or warn before installation of apps that may cause harm.
2. Turn on Google Play protect.
Google Play Protect regularly checks your apps and device for harmful behavior. It gives notification of any security risks found on installed apps. By default Google play protect is always turn on. Only you have to check “scan device for security threats” and “improve harmful app detection” by following the below steps.
Ø Open Google Play store, then go to menu, then open play protects. Here you have to check “scan device for security threats” and “improve harmful app detection”.When you check, “scan device for security threats”, Google will regularly check your device and prevent or warn about potential harm.
ØSimilarly when you check, ”improve harmful app detection”, Google will send unknown apps to Google for better detection.
To know more on this point, you can go through “Help protect against harmful apps with Google Play Protect”.
3. Verify the authenticity of apps before installation
Verifying the authenticity of app, will give an overall idea about, the app organization, for ex. where it is operating, whether it is a secure platform to compromise data, terms condition and etc.
Suppose in holiday season one shopping app came, which is Quick Shop App and it provides 50% off in purchase above Rs.3000. And without checking the authenticity of the app we just downloaded it, started our virtual shopping and done the payment. Like us many people downloaded this app, shopped and made payment. Then after some days, we got to know that all our details are hacked, our hard earning money has fraudulently taken from our account and utilized in terrorist activities.
And all these happened due to the shared debit and credit card details on this app without verifying the authenticity of this app. Therefore, before installation of apps, it is very necessary, to check for authentication of app. So follow the below steps to verify whether the app is genuine or not.
Ø Check the SSL Certificate : SSL Certificates secure all of your data as it is passed from your browser to the website’s server. To get an SSL Certificate, the company must go through a validation process. URL of the SSL certified website must begin with “https” instead of “http”. The s stands for secure. For ex. type Quick Shop in main browser. It will show you the website of this app. Check the URL of the website whether it is https or http.
However there are a few different level of validation like the lowest level of validation is Domain Validation (DV) and the highest level of validation is Extended validation (EV). The lowest level of validation, Domain Validation (DV), simply validates ownership of the domain and not the legitimacy of the organization. The highest level of validation, Extended Validation (EV), is the safest and most extensive. With Extended Validation the company requesting the certificate has to prove their identity as well as their legitimacy as a business. EV certificate website show an address bar with a lock icon as shown in the picture below.
Ø Check the Contact Details: Go to contact details, verify the physical location of the app organization, phone number or email id. Verifying the contact details you will have an idea that from where they are operating and if in trouble happen then we can contact them.
Ø Check the customer review and downloads: Always read the review of the customers on the specific app usage. Then you will get the idea whether this app is secure or not. And also check the number of downloads. Because more the number of downloads more customers have used it.
4. COMPULSORY READ THE PRIVACY POLICY:
Privacy policy explains that what the app does with our data, how it handles our data, how much security it provide to data, whether it shares our data with third party vendor or not, in case any data breaching happens then who will be responsible and many more security based fact about your data. Reading the privacy policy will give you the knowledge that how far you’re personal, credit and debit card data are secure in these apps. And after any online scam whether you can claim it or not.
Note: In privacy policy of some apps, it is clearly written that we are giving our consent to give our data to third party vendor. And if any online fraud happens then the app is not responsible to it. Your data is your responsibility. Read the privacy policy of apps, you will get many more sleepless facts! Without reading the privacy policy, terms and condition, we are giving our consent on free use of our private data, such as to card expiry data and CVV also!
5. Download Apps from Play Store:
Download apps only from play store. Because apps in play store are verified through a cyber test. But still there is a chance of some malicious app but the risk of affecting to the device is low as it will be continuously undergo cyber security test.
6. Verify App Permission:
When we are installing any app it asks us to permit certain things. Have you ever verified what you are permitting for? We are giving the permission for following things
· Device & apps history
· Identity
· Calendar
· Contact
· Location
· SMS
· Photos/Media/Files
· Camera
· Microphone
· Wi-Fi connection information
· Device in & call information
Now you can go to Settings -> Apps -> Permission and check which app took which permissions. It can be understood if a video calling app requires camera and microphone access. But why a gaming app, online shopping app, food delivery app require camera and microphone access? You can manage your app permission by looking which app you want to grant which permission.
Conclusion:
Following all these steps will not guarantee the reduction of cyber criminals as they are always waving on new ways to hack data but it will guarantee you the reduce risk of to be a victim of cyber fraud.
Read it and share it,so that maximum people can be aware it.
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