Our mobile phones have become the central hub for our personal and professional lives, storing everything from financial details to private messages. This convenience comes with a significant security risk, as cybercriminals continue to develop threats such as malware and spyware to compromise these devices.
Malware, a broad term for malicious software, include Trojans and ransomware designed to steal information or compromise device integrity.
Spyware is used to secretly collect sensitive data such as login credentials, browsing history, keystrokes, location information, and personal files, often installed when users click on a malicious advertisement or phishing link.
Unsafe or risky apps may request permissions such as the microphone and camera to allow access to them. In some instances, they end up exploiting these permissions to harvest your personal information and metadata without your explicit authorization.
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Steps to protecting your phone from mal and spyware
Awareness – Recognising the increasing scope and complexity of these mobile threats is the first critical step toward defending your online presence.
Staying updated – The front line of defence against these threats is your phone’s operating system (OS) and applications.
Keeping your OS up to date is essential, as these updates include vital security fixes and patches that protect your device from newly discovered threats and vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
You should also ensure that the apps you keep on your mobile devices are updated regularly, as they also contain critical security patches.
App download sources – When installing any new application, only download from official, trusted sources like the Apple App Store, Google Play or HuaweiApp Gallery as these stores have safety measures in place to keep apps secure. For instance, in Google Play, always ensure your Play Protect is on. Google Play Protect is a security feature that scans apps on the Play Store and Android devices for malware, viruses, and other harmful content to protect users from potential threats.
Attention – Even with official app stores, read user reviews and developer information to avoid malicious or counterfeit apps that still appear.
Phone etiquettes – Beyond app selection, personal habits also significantly enhance mobile security. The most fundamental step is to lock your phone using a strong passcode or biometric authentication, like a fingerprint or facial ID. You should also set your phone to automatically lock after a very short period of inactivity, ideally one minute or less, to prevent unauthorised access if it is lost or stolen.
Careful with app permissions – Furthermore, be cautious with app permissions; review the permissions an app requests and remove or delete any application that asks for excessive or suspicious access that is unnecessary for its function, such as the microphone or photos for a simple game.
Dangers of using ‘free’ public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured and unencrypted, making it easy for hackers to eavesdrop on your network traffic and access your personal information.
To safely use public Wi-Fi, you should use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data and mask your connection. You must also be vigilant against phishing attempts, which often arrive via suspicious emails or text messages that pressure you to take urgent action or click a malicious link or attachment.
Never click on unsolicited links or share sensitive information without first verifying the sender or request through an official, separate channel.
Conclusion
Protecting your mobile device requires an ongoing, multi-layered approach that includes both physical and digital precautions.
- Regularly backing up your data to the cloud is vital, as it allows you to restore your information in the event your phone is lost, stolen, or completely wiped to remove malware.
- On Android devices, tools like Google Play Protect perform safety checks on apps before you download them and can detect, warn you about, or even remove harmful apps from other sources.
- By being proactive, updating your software, being selective about apps, using strong device locks, and
- Practising caution online, you can significantly minimise your risk and keep your personal data secure from mobile threats.
Written by Samuel Nii Adjetey
