How protected is your phone? Three threats you need to be aware of in South Africa today
Are you aware of these online threats?
Having any sort of mobile electronic device opens us up to hacks and cyber security issues. No matter how careful and protected you feel or think you are, there's always someone who can find a way around or through it.
As much as that can be so stressful to think about, it is also important to stay informed and aware when it comes to threats that pose a risk to your information. Because long gone are the days where people plan a heist for money or jewels, now criminals are more attracted to information...
Because information can open doors to the kingdom - or so that's that we think is true of this digital age we live in. Recently there has been an increase in malware attacks in South Africa.
That may mean absolutely nothing to you at first glance, but these stats may change your outlook.
"Out of the more than 206,000 mobile malware attacks blocked by Kaspersky solutions for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) region in just 6-months measured, between January to June 2021, over 30,000 of these attacks combined originated from Nigeria (14,071), Kenya (10,697), and South Africa (5,499)." (Business Tech)
The top three malware behaviours that have been noticed by Kaspersky include; Trojans, Trojan-Proxy, and Trojan-Downloaders. So for those of us who don't know exactly what a trojan is, we got you (because honestly neither did we)...
"A Trojan is a type of malware that is often disguised as legitimate software which attackers can use to try and gain access to user systems. Trojan-Downloaders download and install new versions of malicious programmes, including Trojans and Adware on victim computers. Trojan-Proxy allows an attacker to use the infected device as a proxy to connect to the Internet." (Business Tech)
So let's just say all three are worthy threats to be concerned about. Mobile threats are a big concern for our continent, with Nigeria appearing in the top 10 countries who have been attacked by mobile malware.
For more from East Coast Radio
Staying on top of it all can be overwhelming to say the least. So follow these tips to stay protected and enhance your mobile security.
- Passwords aren't just for fun. By putting a strong (less obvious) password on your device, you are potentially stopping a criminal from using it if it gets stolen. So stay away from birthdates and your pet's name, get spy smart with your password.
- SMSES aren't a trusted form of communication when it comes to responding to text messages from unknown numbers. Mobile malware use text messages and so do common criminals who say that your late relative has left R150k for you...Not true. Do not respond to these messages.
- "Check your browser for the lock symbol. The lock icon in the address bar indicates that the site is secure when entering personal data."
- Make sure to check that the apps you are downloading are all official applications. Click on the 'about this app' section and read who the creator of the app is and find out as much information as possible before downloading it to your device.
And, lastly, it's always best to be safe rather than sorry. The thing is that if you aren't sure then don't click it or download it. These attempts at cyber crime can be emotive in their approach and it can be really appealing to click on it. Resist and stay safe and protected.
Image Courtesy of iStock