One of the most common scams that smartphone users encounter is phishing. In an interview with RT about this issue warned MegaFon senior expert Boris Lopatin in the investigation of the fraud case.
Lopatin explains that attackers encourage people to share confidential data under various excuses. For example, they may ask you to follow a link and leave your bank card information to receive fake earnings, discounts or profitable investments. To protect against phishing, the expert recommends not following suspicious links, not opening attachments in letters from unknown senders, and always checking the sender’s address and website domains.
Lopatin also stated that phishing emails can be sent to instant messaging programs from people whose accounts have been compromised by attackers. Typically, such attacks target user profiles in instant messaging programs, and account access is blocked using fake login pages.
The second threat is the physical vulnerability of the device. To prevent unauthorized access to your smartphone in case of theft, Lopatin recommends protecting your phone with a password, pattern key or biometric data. It would also be a good idea to set a PIN code on the SIM card, which will be requested every time you turn on the smartphone and move the SIM card to a new device.
The expert also emphasizes that clicking on fake links can lead to downloading malware. To increase device security, it recommends installing antivirus programs, using software from official sources, and checking applications’ permission requests.
Additionally, open and unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots can also pose a threat. Through such networks, hackers can intercept data and distribute malware. The expert recommends using only secure access points and mobile networks, especially for transactions with banking data.
Lopatin also points out the dangers of spyware and tracking software, which can masquerade as legitimate applications and threaten user privacy. Additionally, cybercriminals use ransomware that encrypts files and demands ransom.
Previously reportedAlmost 10 million records related to Russians were leaked online in October.
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Source: Gazeta
Jackson Ruhl is a tech and sci-fi expert, who writes for “Social Bites”. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of technology and science fiction.