Do You Need Virus or Malware Protection on Your Smartphone?

Smartphones are quickly becoming a common part of the average person’s arsenal of gadgets. From banking information and contacts to personal documents and family photos, these devices are a treasure trove of goodies for hackers and identity thieves. While virus and malware scanners have become a common part of computer use, their entry into the portable device arena is still relatively new. These tips will keep your phone secure and help you decide if malware or virus protection apps are right for you.

Threats to Mobile Security
While there are very few self-distributing or traditional viruses for Android, iOS or Windows Mobile, there are plenty of security threats to be concerned about. From keystroke and data loggers to those that send SMS messages to premium numbers without your knowledge, these apps can cause trouble once they are installed. There is also the chance that your phone might be lost or stolen. Without proper security, everything on your phone will be accessible to the person who finds it.

Apps for Securing Your Phone
Since most Smartphone apps access only their own files, standalone virus scanners do not offer much protection. Security suites, however, can help identify potentially suspicious phone activity and allow you to monitor what is occurring on your phone. Many of these apps also allow you to remotely wipe or lock your phone and activate your GPS should you lose the phone for any reason.

Top Rated Security Apps Include:
1. Lookout Security & Antivirus: This app is available in both free and paid versions. While the free version takes care of basic trojans and malware blocking for most devices, the paid version adds advanced scanning for phishing attempts, data backup features, remote GPS activation and remote phone wiping.
2. WebRoot SecureAnywhere Mobile: This suite features full coverage for malware and viruses along with a number of other useful features. Remote phone locking, GPS activation and data wiping provides security in the event of phone loss. Advanced features, such as connection viewing, call blocking and phishing detection provided added control for those looking for a robust toolkit.
3. Sophos Mobile Security: For users looking for a lightweight app, Sophos offers real-time scanning of all running apps and app installations as well as in-depth on-demand scans of both the phone’s internal memory and SD card.

Practices for Improving Phone Security
Though apps can help to prevent infection of your phone and identity theft, the best way to avoid these issues is to use your phone in a safe manner. These practices are easy to remember and can provide an impressive level of security for your phone:

• Always check app permissions. While iOS users can trust nearly every app on the official iTunes App Store, other mobile app providers might not be as thorough in testing new apps. By checking the permissions that an app requests before installing it on your phone, you can avoid the majority of malware apps. For example, an image-editing app requesting SMS rights or contact list access should raise suspicion.

• Set a password on your phone. Whether you are using a pin, pass phrase or touch gesture, adding this security is enough to thwart many potential identity thieves should they obtain physical access to your phone.

• Always download apps from trusted providers. Each mobile OS has a dedicated app store. Purchasing through these stores is often your safest method. While other sites may offer apps at lower prices, they may contain malware or other surprising additions.

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Michelle Lim, Post from: SiteProNews