Should I Download That App?

Smartphones are a part of daily life and people constantly download a variety of apps that peak their interest.  Most individuals think all apps are innocent and safe, but are they?  Actually…some apps can be dangerous.  Most apps can entertain you and keep you organized and up-to-date, but you need to be wary of a malicious software they can carry called malware.  By downloading an innocent app, you may be sending hackers directly to your own personal information.

Malware can happen whether an app is expensive or fairly cheap.  There are stories of individuals who downloaded popular, inexpensive apps and found out that hundreds of purchases had been made from their bank account. Some apps are actually created just so they can steal your personal information.  There are weather and flashlight apps that have been found to exploit legitimate banking apps by capturing information when someone takes a photo of a check to send to their bank.  And when this happens, there is a ton of work that the individual will need to do to fix your account and credit information.

We want to make sure this never happens to you. As we have discussed in previous blogs, you need to think of your phone as a handheld personal computer.  Make sure you have passcode to get into your phone,​ always use caution when entering personal information, and only use apps on the Google Play store or Apple store.

We also recommend you go the extra step and download the security app Lookout.  Lookout makes protecting your mobile devices (either iPhone or Android) easy and offers powerful security and theft protection.  Lookout works with your phone to ensure predictive security, helps you find your phone if it is lost, keeps you updated on any theft alerts and automatically backups of your data.  The standard Lookout app is free or you can get a more protective plan that is only $3/month – a small fee for your piece of mind.

Do you want to learn more on how you and your organization can make sure that your technical information is safe?  I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.  I can be reached at rgreenwald@insourceservices.com or 781-374-5116.