Smartphones too can be affected by viruses. While most of the news about viruses these days pertains to computers, and very little impetus is placed on how smartphones too can be infected by malware and aren’t immune to viruses, here are some tips to keep your smartphones protected from viruses.
In 2016, smartphone web browsing overtake desktop browsing for the first time, as the number of smartphones and tablets in operation radically increased owing to their ease-of-use, accounting for over 51.3% of all web traffic according to data from web analytics firm Stat Counter. This makes it very important for us to learn how we can protect our smartphones and tablet devices from a vast variety of malware and phishing viruses that can infect our devices.
- Always download applications only from the official store for your device
Most of the applications that you download in the regular course of using your smartphone are listed either on the Android App Store (Google Play), or the App Store if you are on an iOS device. Applications listed on these app stores are verified and checked thoroughly. Only when the developers behind these stores formally give a go-ahead, are these applications listed for public use. However, there are other software and applications that you can download from other unverified sources such as websites on the internet, which may contain programs that can be installed on the smartphone manually. These unverified applications and software may be infected with viruses. The Oppo K1 is an interesting device to consider if you’re looking for an Oppo Phone under 15000 INR that comes with an Android 8.1 Oreo OS and Google Play.
- Don’t root your device unless you know what you’re doing
Jail breaking your smartphone device is a technique that gives the user access to a wide array of features that the developers of the phone may have left out for one reason or another. It is commonly known as rooting the device, and can be done in multiple ways. However, we aren’t getting into that here. While rooting the device does offer you access to the smartphone’s inner firmware, it also makes it all the more easier for hackers to attack your device through specially designed malware to attack jail broken phones.
- Don’t download anything that looks fishy
While browsing content online, you might encounter pop-up tabs from multiple browsers that may try to trick you into downloading software that may harm your smartphone device, by releasing a host of malware or phishing viruses into the device. It is an attempt to extract either valuable information or extorting money from the user in exchange for unlocking their devices. It’s best to not download any such software that may offer you promising games, lottery tickets, or free rewards. They are mostly part of a grand scheme to extort money by locking your phone. If you’re on the lookout for the best smartphones under 20,000 rupees, make sure to take a good look at the Vivo Z1 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M40, Oppo K3 and the Redmi Note 7 Pro.
- Backup any important data on your phone regularly
A lot of malware recently has been targeting phone users by locking them out of their devices and attempting to extort money in exchange for the hackers unlocking the said devices. You can protect yourself from falling prey to such scams by keeping a regular data back-up of your smartphone on your computer, in addition to following the steps outlined previously.
- Be careful while using Public Wi-Fi networks
Using public Wi-Fi networks can leave you incredibly vulnerable to hackers. Using these connections, hackers can sneak in a host of spyware, malware and phishing software. Another manner in which hackers attempt to put these viruses in your phone is by means of legitimate looking public Wi-Fi networks, which are a hoax in reality. Accessing such public Wi-Fi networks can make you a victim to the ever-evolving range of scam software that are infecting smartphones. It’s best to use a phone that combines the best of firewalls, anti-virus software, screen locks and other application locks to strengthen the device’s security. The Oppo K1 is one such device. If you’re looking for an Oppo phone under 15000 rupees, be sure to check it out.
