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Smartphones running on Android are the most targeted devices for cybercrime. They are particularly vulnerable to cyber criminals who attempt to hack into Android devices, capture the data stored on them and either sell them or use them for identity theft. So it’s extremely important to keep yourself protected if you’re an Android user.
Caitalin Cosoi, Chief Security Strategist at Bitdefender, has explained to us why you should keep your Android phone protected.
Why is it important for Android users to keep their phones protected?
Android is the most targeted mobile operating system in the world. Since it powers more than a billion devices across the globe, cybercriminals are trying to take advantage and break in by creating thousands of new malware strings every month. Our records show there were over 200,000 Android malware families detected in the first half of 2015, so it’s mandatory that Android device-owners take safety measures and install proper protection to avoid having their sensitive data captured that is sold or used by identity thieves.
What do Android users need to look out for?
Ransomware is becoming dangerously popular on mobile devices. Once installed, the malware blocks the device’s home screen and contents and asks for money to restore access. Bitdefender recently discovered a ransomware-spreading spam campaign infecting Android devices and asking for $500 in exchange. Adware is also potentially harmful – ad injectors threaten users’ security by breaking browser encryption to place ads that serve malware, steal account credentials and hijack search queries. They also report users’ activity to third parties for tracking.
How can Android users protect themselves?
It’s vital that Android users install a mobile security solution to protect their devices from malware, aggressive ads and intrusive apps. The app should also boost anti-theft capabilities, to make sure the phone can be tracked, locked and even wiped in case it goes missing. To further protect devices from eavesdropping, users can encrypt phone data – including application data, downloaded files, and everything else – using the system encryption feature embedded in the operating system.
How many Android devices have become victims of viruses & malware in the last year?
It’s very difficult to identify the number of victims. If users got infected, it means that they did not protect their devices with an AV solution. Bitdefender monitors the number of infection attempts blocked by the mobile security solution before the malware gets a chance to run on that system.
How can Android apps abuse your personal information?
Some mobile apps – especially pirated, repackaged ones – can leak private data collected from devices to other third parties – this includes the user’s phone number, location, email address, contacts list, etc. Depending on the permissions granted by the user, some apps can send passwords unencrypted over the internet, read the user’s browsing history, read and send text messages, make calls without the user’s knowledge and even access photos.
The best way to avoid intrusive apps is to monitor their behaviour using a privacy advisor tool, which comes with the mobile security app.
