Yet according to the Deloitte Mobile Consumer Survey , 88 percent of the UK population had a smartphone - and we've never been more addicted to them. A third of UK adults have reported arguing with their partner about phone overuse.
They also admit to regularly using it when with friends or watching television. But while smartphone use is on the rise, so is mobile malware. Malware or 'malicious software' is software that's designed to secretly control a device and steal private information. According to Symantec, Managing mobile device security continues to present a challenge for organisations. During , one in 36 devices used in organisations were classed as high risk and 1 in 36 mobile devices had high risk apps installed.
There is a common misconception with viruses on mobile devices: that Android devices are particularly vulnerable. In March one of the worlds leading cybersecurity experts warned of the alarming new surge in malicious apps posing serious threats to iPhone Users.
As of March , the total number of new Android malware samples amounted to , per month. According to AV-Test , trojans were the most common type of malware affecting Android devices.
In , trojans accounted for Ransomware ranked second, with 2. So here's the lesson: avoiding one operating system won't protect you from mobile malware. Shocking and upsetting, right? Android and other mobile platforms have their roots in the modern era when programmers understood the dangers of the internet.
On Android, you have to physically tap on a notification to install an APK downloaded from a source outside the Play Store. Even then, there are security settings that need to be manually bypassed. So, what about malware on the Play Store? Again, that depends on what you mean by malware. The most severe security risks will never make it into the store. While you're not likely to catch a phone virus, there's a much higher risk of your phone being infected by other kinds of malware.
The most common ways that malware gets onto your iPhone or Android device are:. Downloading a malicious app is the most common way for Android malware to get onto your phone. For iPhone users, app-based malware is much rarer but may still be a risk. Android phones are more vulnerable to malicious apps than iPhones because, unlike Apple, Google allows the downloading of apps from sources other than the official Google Play app store.
By default, though, Android disables the downloading of apps from other sources. The best way to avoid downloading a malicious app to your phone is to do a little research. Ask yourself these three questions:.
Check, for example, how many times an application has been downloaded from the Google Play Store or the App Store. Are they positive? Cybercriminals often post short, fake reviews to try to trick you into downloading an app containing malware. Genuine app developers often create more than one app.
If they have, read the reviews of those apps too. If not, be wary. Signs that an app could be used to deliver malware or some other type of threat include:. If a phone app asks you to download an urgent security update, stop, think and do a little Googling. Have other users downloaded this update? Were they happy with the result? Does the phone app you downloaded look and behave like a professional app? Spelling mistakes, badly reproduced logos, and poorly designed interfaces are all signs pointing towards a fake app that delivers viruses, malware or other threats.
First, run a virus scan, such as Avast Mobile Security for Android , to resolve any immediate threats, then manually uninstall the malicious apps. The most common route by which malware might infect an iPhone is for hackers to target a set of tools known as a software development kit SDK. An SDK allows the owner of a jailbroken iPhone to create and install unofficial apps on their device but can make iPhones more vulnerable to malware.
Finding and removing malicious apps and viruses from an iPhone is relatively straightforward. Text messages are just one of the ways that criminals try to persuade people to download malware.
You can also consider installing antivirus apps. These services can sometimes slow your phone, and they do have heightened access to your phone in order to spot malicious behavior, so you have to choose one you trust. And you're likely to want to choose the paid option if you can, both to unlock all the best features and to avoid seeing even more ads. Still, the apps can warn you about malware on your phone and offer you customer service when you need to deal with something nasty.
At the very least, you can use a well-known program like Malwarebytes, Norton, Lookout or Bitdefender to scan your device if you think you already have malware installed. Finally, you can get rid of or avoid Android apps downloaded from third-party app stores.
These apps don't go through review by Google and can more easily sneak malicious software onto your phone. Google doesn't catch everything before it gets on your phone, as reports about malicious Android apps being removed show, but sticking to the official Google Play Store -- and having a direct outlet to report problems you encounter -- is a further line of defense. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read.
Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Android malware tries to trick you. Here's how to spot it Malicious apps are common, and they can drive you nuts with ads or steal your personal information. Laura Hautala. May 14, a. Now playing: Watch this: Android What's new in the public beta.
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