Malicious apps disguised as games were downloaded 15 million times this summer.
Many of the games, puzzles, and even smartphone wallpaper apps were advertised on kid oriented platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. But the kids and teens who installed these hundreds of of infected apps didn’t realize they carried dangerous adware.
Once installed, a malicious app overwhelms your mobile device with unwanted pop-ads. Just one click and those ads will trigger malware, or malicious software, to take over the device and steal sensitive information like payment details, social security numbers and anything else that could lead to identity theft. If the phone is connected to your at-home Wi-Fi, other devices on that network can be compromised, too.
1. One way to head off malicious apps at the pass is to invest in powerful antivirus software.
Once downloaded, the software will detect and remove existing malware, then thwart future attempted adware attacks in real time. It also shields any personal or financial information tied to each device using bank-grade encryption. Malware can be hiding in any app. It’s also easy to fall prey to adware traps when you’re shopping, banking, or making donations online. Malware even comes in the form of phishing emails and texts.
2. Only download apps from legitimate sources like Apple and Google.
Third-party app stores exist, they carry a much greater risk of malware infections, so it’s best to block kids’ access to them altogether. Hundreds of malicious apps have managed to bypass the Google Play Store’s security barriers this year alone.
3. Be wary of giving permissions when prompted by an app.
An app you download may prompt you to turn on location services or request permission to access your camera, microphone or even your storage. It’s easy to hit “accept” just to keep things moving, but does the app really need to access your camera or personal contacts.
Unnecessary permissions should be a red flag that an app is looking for avenues of attack. If an app can’t operate without the requested permissions, you’ll always have an opportunity to grant them later.
4. Do not keep apps ‘open’ on your device when not in use.
When apps are running in the background, they can still send information and data back to the app developer. If the user has provisioned the app to receive the user’s location, the app developer will be enabled to track its users, unnecessarily, for extended periods of time.
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