Common Cybersecurity Issues For Smartphones
Anything that is connected to the internet is at risk. Your smartphone might be connected to the internet for longer than your computer. It could be connected whilst you sleep. Your phone has your personal data, social media accounts and your financial apps on it. It is more personal, and more open, so it is a greater risk.
Our smartphones are also a prime target of Cybercriminals. Yep, you read that right. It’s not just our laptops and desktops at risk. In fact, mobile device security threats are on the rise. According to Kaspersky Security Network, 5,623,670 mobile malware, adware, and riskware attempts were blocked in the third quarter of 2022. It doesn’t matter whether you use an iPhone or an Android, hackers are always finding new ways to compromise mobile devices.
Let’s familiarise ourselves about the common cybersecurity threats issues for smartphones:
- Spam and phishing – When cybercriminals send you deceptive messages, they are engaging in phishing. Fraudsters target users to get access to their bank, email, social media, and other accounts by luring them into disclosing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.
- Malicious applications – Official app shops like Apple App Store and Google Play have several precautions against harmful malware. Typically, private data and login credentials are the targets of malicious mobile applications. When we provide our consent for an app to access our whole list of contacts, photos, and locations, that data becomes up for sale and is therefore vulnerable to leakage in the case of a data breach.
- Spyware – Apps that claim to keep tabs on your children or significant other are likely malware intended to allow highly intrusive digital surveillance via a smartphone. These programs, known as stalkerware, are meant to be put on the target’s smartphone without their permission.
The truth is, there are tons of other cybersecurity issues that our smartphones are vulnerable to. If your phone is compromised and you have other linked devices, chances are high that your other devices could be next. Understanding typical cyberattacks and being ready for the next wave of malicious activity are needed for safeguarding devices, and data, and to keep you from being a victim of cyberattacks.
