If you’re one of the millions of people who own an Android smartphone, there’s some good news and some bad news.
The good news? Android mobile devices are open-source and customizable, which means they give you a lot more freedom to do what you want with them than Apple products do—which also means that there are more opportunities to download apps that could potentially give hackers access to your phone or steal information from your device without your knowledge. The bad news?
Android phone users often download apps from third-party sites
A new report from Norton found that a majority of people who downloaded Android apps did so from sites other than Google Play, where most applications are vetted by Google.
Norton said it analyzed some 800 million downloads and found that of those, 82 percent came from third-party sites. Although Apple’s App Store is far larger than Google’s offering, its vetting process is also more rigorous and as a result only 73 percent of iOS apps were obtained outside its official channel. Because less traffic flows to third-party app stores and many apps are available on multiple platforms, users who obtain Android apps elsewhere can be exposed to more risks—from spyware to ransomware—than they might if they had gone with official channels. Title: Norton Mobile Security for Android Phones Analyzed By Third Parties More Than 80 Percent Of The Time: Report Title: Norton Mobile Security Review - Is It Safe? - Norton Community Title: Norton VPN Review - Is It Safe? - Norton Community
Over 50% of malware attacks take place on Android phones
Android is one of world's most used operating systems. That’s because it is free and very flexible in terms of what manufacturers can do with it. It’s also open source, so anyone can use its code to develop their own version. This means that millions upon millions of people around the world are using Android phones, but they’re not all safe from attacks by malware developers. In fact, more than half of malware attacks take place on Android phones. To keep yourself protected from these dangerous attacks, you should get a program such as Norton Mobile Security for your phone or tablet. You may have heard about its desktop program, which allows you to detect and remove any threats that are on your computer right now. If you’re worried about how much space it will take up on your device, rest assured—the Android app has been designed specifically to work alongside other apps without causing issues. It only takes up around 2 MB of space, meaning that you won't need to delete anything else from your phone if you want to use it. And if you're worried about losing battery life, don't be: The app only runs when needed, so there's no reason why it would affect your usage at all. If you're looking for an easy way to protect yourself against malware attacks while still being able to enjoy your favorite programs and apps without worry, then download Norton Mobile Security today! Title: How Does Norton Mobile Security Work?
These are the top tips to make your smartphone safer
If you use your smartphone to shop, pay bills or access sensitive information, like bank or medical data, it’s vital that you take some simple steps to protect your personal information. If you have a smartphone running Android 2.3 or later or an iPhone 4 or newer with iOS 6 installed, install Norton Mobile Security right away. This free app will scan your device and let you know what data is at risk and how to fix it. Check out some of these key features below: · Free Anti-Theft: Remotely locate and lock your phone from any computer if it’s lost or stolen—and don’t worry about deleting all of those pictures before you do it! You can also remotely sound an alarm on your device to help find it. · Call Blocker: Get rid of pesky telemarketers, debt collectors and other unwanted callers by blocking them with just one tap. Keep in mind that if you block someone, they won't be able to leave a voicemail message either. · App Locker: Prevent unauthorized access to apps on your phone by locking them behind a PIN code. This feature comes in handy when your phone falls into untrustworthy hands. · Privacy Advisor: Let us tell you which apps are accessing sensitive data (like your location) without your knowledge so that you can decide whether to allow them to continue doing so. · Antispam Filter: Stop spam messages from clogging up your inbox, even when using email services like Gmail and Yahoo Mail. When enabled, Norton Mobile Security scans each incoming message for known spam indicators and flags suspicious emails as spam so they're never delivered to your inbox.
Android users can only protect their devices by keeping them up-to-date
Users of Google Android devices who have upgraded to version 2.3 or higher can download a free Norton Mobile Security app from either Google Play or Amazon Appstore. Users who haven’t upgraded their Android device should follow these instructions to learn how to update your smartphone or tablet. The newest versions of Android include critical enhancements designed specifically to protect against malware and other threats— so, if you use an older version of Android, you may want to consider upgrading. To get free advice and help with every step of your update process, visit Norton Mobile Security Support . If you experience any issues updating your phone, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions page for help on how to complete the process successfully. Once your device is updated, remember to download and install Norton Mobile Security from Google Play or Amazon Appstore . Once installed, make sure it is turned on (it will automatically start protecting your device). You can then scan all files stored in apps that you download by tapping Settings > Device Protection > On. Then tap Scan for Threats. A green checkmark indicates that all files are safe; a red X means there might be a problem with one of them – simply tap OK and then click OK again to fix it. Please note: Older versions of Android do not support automatic scanning while new versions only support manual scanning until they have been upgraded through FOTA (Firmware Over-the-Air) updates. For more information about manually scanning for threats using Norton Mobile Security, see How do I scan my Android device? Title: norton mobile security cost , norton mobile security login , world apps Description: Norton Mobile Security protects your Android phone or tablet against viruses, spyware and other malicious software. It scans all downloaded applications before installing them and blocks calls made by spammers. It also features a web protection component which warns you when you visit sites known to contain malicious code before visiting such sites. This product includes 90 days of LiveUpdate protection services which ensures that virus definitions are up-to-date as well as 24/7 technical support via online chat or telephone call.
Look out for scammy ads
Many free apps contain malware, which is a common occurrence these days. The only way to protect yourself from scammy or malicious ads is to avoid them in the first place—which you can do by installing an ad-blocker app on your phone. There are plenty of quality ones out there, like AdBlock Plus, 1Blocker and Norton Security (to name a few). Read up on how they work so you're familiar with how they operate before using one. And keep in mind that while many are totally free, some charge a small fee each month; it's still worth it if it keeps you protected. If you don't have time to research all of them, consider checking out our top 10 list of ad blockers. They're user friendly and will get the job done!
If it's too good to be true, it probably is
We've all gotten those seemingly too-good-to-be-true emails about winning millions of dollars in a sweepstakes, but it's best to avoid responding to these kinds of messages. Just because someone appears to have your best interests in mind doesn't mean you should give them access to your personal and financial information. If you're trying to understand why a company is trustworthy, use Google: typing in company name and scam will bring up news stories from around the web that will help you decide whether or not they're reputable enough to do business with. Another good rule of thumb is if something seems too good to be true (too high interest rates, too little money needed), then it probably isn't real. The key to making smart decisions online is to be proactive. Before you sign on any dotted lines, ask yourself what's in it for you. If there are no benefits—or only benefits to someone else—then proceed with caution. And don't forget: your email address is one of your most valuable assets when it comes to identity theft, so always protect it like Fort Knox!
Avoid phishing scams when you're online
When you’re browsing online or using an app, there are red flags that can warn you about a potential phishing attempt. Phishing scams try to trick you into providing your personal information to a hacker—which could lead to identity theft or other financial problems. If a site is sending emails asking you to log in or click on a link, take note of these five warning signs: 1. The email comes from nowhere: If you get an email out of the blue that's addressed specifically to you, but it doesn't seem like it came from someone who knows you (like an organization you're familiar with), that’s probably not a good sign. 2. The email looks suspicious: Does the subject line look like spam? Is there weird spacing between letters? Are any words capitalized when they shouldn't be? These are all possible indicators of a scam. 3. You don't recognize where it came from: If you got an email claiming to be from your bank and you don't use their services, something may be fishy. 4. There's no obvious way to unsubscribe: One telltale sign that something might be off is if there isn't a clear way to unsubscribe or contact someone if you have questions about why you received an email in the first place. 5. It asks you for sensitive info: Anytime you receive an email that asks for your password, social security number, credit card number, or anything else private and sensitive, it should raise a big red flag.
Keep personal data private
In a world where almost everything we do online is connected to our personal information, it's more important than ever to be careful about who you share information with. Before installing any app or downloading an update, consider whether that software will collect and use your data in potentially invasive ways, or if it will share data with other companies that you would rather keep at arm's length. You can also protect yourself from some types of data collection by using private browsing modes in your favorite browsers and deleting cookies when you're finished surfing. With so much of your personal information out there, it pays to be cautious and aware of what apps are doing behind-the-scenes—especially ones designed to handle sensitive info like banking information. If you have children using your phone, make sure they know never to give out their name, address or birth date over email or text message. It's also worth noting that many kids' games include tracking technologies that track player locations within games and send them back to game developers along with marketing materials such as ads based on those players' interests. There are steps parents can take to help prevent tracking of their children through these games; see Resources below for more information. Also Read: How To Remove Malware From Android Device? (Tips & Tricks) #infographic #malware #android Mobile Security App For Android: Protect Your Personal Data & Online Privacy With Norton Mobile Security App! #AndroidSecurity #privacyprotection #NortonMobileSecurity The latest malware is making rounds in Google Play store infecting millions of users. Some reports suggest up to 50 million users could be affected. According to research conducted by Lookout Inc., discovered 2 malware variants which has infected 15,000 - 50,000 devices since April 2015. The primary goal of these malicious apps is stealing credentials which enables hackers to gain access bank accounts and credit cards details of unsuspecting victims across US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Don't accidentally leak info through your phone
You might not consider your smartphone to be a risk to you or your business, but with today’s technology it’s easier than ever to leak private information. Whether it’s losing a phone that stores sensitive data, being careless with personal information like an email address or phone number, or using malicious software that lets someone else access your files and photos, these are all risks you have control over. Make sure you know what apps have permission to access your information and keep track of who can access your online accounts. The less people who have access to personally identifiable information on your phone, computer and online accounts, the safer you'll be when using them on business trips or while traveling. And don't forget about public Wi-Fi hotspots—they're rife with threats to your privacy! Protect yourself by downloading encryption programs (like Hotspot Shield) onto your devices before heading out. This way, even if you do connect to a risky network, your data will stay safe.