For most purposes, mobile phones have made cameras, clocks, computers, and many devices redundant. With their ever-expanding capabilities, mobile phones today have also become increasingly vulnerable to online threats like nasty, damaging cyber-attacks and data pilfering. As per a 2022 study, mobile phones face more than 60 percent of digital fraud via stolen passwords and phishing attacks. To stay clear of these, one needs to avoid making some of the following mistakes:
Installing fake apps on smartphones
Scammers can create apps that look legit but are just viruses or other threats disguised as actual mobile applications. To avoid this threat, one needs to complete software and security updates regularly, provide personal information only if it is necessary, check customer reviews for any app before installing it on their phone, and verify applications they want to download from the app store for duplicates.
Fake apps are among the most common smartphone threats, and taking these simple precautions can prevent a person from exposing themselves to a cyber-attack or another kind of online fraud.
Not being careful during online shopping
Most people choose eCommerce apps on their phones to make purchases. However, online shopping sites can contain threats too. For example, an individual may fall into the trap of giving away their card details to scammers via the aforementioned fake or fraudulent shopping apps. Other than that, one may share the password of their shopping apps with their friends, thereby landing themselves in trouble.
For this reason, one must only buy goods and services from trusted shopping sites and apps. Additionally, it is wiser not to save one’s payment details on such sites.
Opening links/attachments in shady emails
Emails from vague, potentially illicit sources need to be directed straight to the “spam” or “trash” folder on smartphones as they can cause data loss and software damage. To avoid such outcomes, one can install a mobile firewall on their device to block shady emails and attachments/links.
Falling for lottery scams
A lottery scam is perhaps the most alluring threat as it preys on the weakness and greed of people. The prospect of earning millions of dollars, swanky sportscars, and penthouses by clicking a link is just as irresistible as it is illusionary. On coming across such lottery links or messages, one must ignore, delete, or report them.
People who fall for this trap tend to give their card or bank account details to “claim their prize” after clicking on these links. By doing so, they are just enabling cyber-attackers to successfully dupe them online. Unfortunately, lottery scams generally affect smartphone users the most.
