Viruses, Trojans, Worms, Malware… Many terms to get back to one thing: your security.
Being on a smartphone does not mean you are protected from virtual bandits. On the contrary! And what makes it easy for some is the lack of knowledge about this absolutely real problem.
So I will guide you on some key points to avoid disaster. But beware, I’m not crying, cases of fraud on mobile devices are especially rare and fortunately. However, remember the adage that “it doesn’t just happen to others” and still be careful.
At the end of this article, you will find a dictionary that defines words underlined, bold, followed by an asterisk ().sample*).
one/ “Free” web apps:
And it makes sense: NEVER download apps from the web. Their free nature will surely seduce you, but many will include: Trojan horses* personal information (passwords, browsing history, IMEI* phone etc.).
2/ Swe have an online bank account:
What could be better than mobility and above all being able to consult your bank account anywhere? For this, use an application provided by your bank, not an internet browser. I state once again: it is provided by your bank.
If you don’t have one, don’t rely on one of these (most paid) apps that combine several banks and let you see your statements and other available balances. If no such app exists, forget it. When you get home, you will watch it on your computer or from a vending machine in the city.
3/ Online purchase:
As in the bank, use proprietary apps* to shop online! Ebay even Pixmania offers an app. This allows you to buy with confidence.
4/ Web browser:
Remember to empty your browsing history as often as possible, hidden* and Cookie* every time you finish surfing. This deletes any more or less sensitive data (passwords, addresses, etc.) that you may have created while navigating forms, for example.
5/ Downloading apps from Android Market:
The freedom of Google’s operating system comes at a price: the monitoring of applications published on the Market is not deep enough. So when downloading an app, take a good look at the “rights” it asks you for (see screenshot). If these seem too intrusive to you, go ahead.
For example, as you can see in the Uloops app, this is entitled “Phone calls”, which is defined as access to phone functions (serial number, IMEI number, number of ongoing call,…). Here is an example of an application that was forgotten because it exceeded its main function, sound recording. So it has nothing to do with your phone data.
Yes, as with PC, there are some Android antiviruses that scan your smartphone to look for, find and destroy any possible virus or trojan. Here is a small list of the best. Of course personal opinion will be up to you to make your choice:
- Norton Mobile Security : full version 39€, as expensive as PC protection. Among other things, it allows your mobile phone to be scanned and also remotely blocked in case of loss or theft.
Available on the Market Web or by browsing QR code* below with your mobile phone:
- Anti Virus Pro : AVG has no reputation to do anymore and for € 3.63 offers an ideal solution to protect you.
You can find it on the Market Web or by scanning the QRCode with your mobile phone:
- Lookout Antivirus and Security: With a 5-star rating from 179,145 users, this app is one of the best of its kind… and it’s free!
available on Web Market or by scanning the following QRCode:
7/ Firewalls:
What is Firewall?
More commonly known as Firewall, an English term like many words used in computing (bug, trojan, etc.), it creates a “barrier” between your mobile phone and your Internet connection. This “barrier” will filter incoming content based on a set of criteria, usually defined by levels (low, medium, and high). If you have an antivirus on your computer, it should integrate this functionality, just like My McAfee Security Center.
On an Android smartphone, the process is pretty much the same, but only about apps. Indeed, the firewall allows or does not allow you to authorize Internet access for all applications installed on the smartphone.
However, these firewalls require full access to the mobile phone called “root”. Feel free to search for the method according to your mobile phone model in our forum so that you can have it.
That’s why I present to you two of the best firewalls available on Android:
- droid wall : As our reader Philippe noted, Droidwall is the undisputed star of firewalls. Not only because it’s free, but also because of its full Wi-Fi and 3G integration.
It can be accessed on the Market Web or by scanning the following QrCode:
- eNETrafic : Developed by Domodo LTD, one of the leaders in management applications and other tools, ENETraffic allows you to view the data sent and received by each of your applications and allows you to block Internet access through the option firewall, just like Droidwall. It can only be used with 2G/3G mobile networks, not Wi-Fi. It’s very complete, very aesthetic, but best of all it’s free.
It can be accessed on the Market Web or by scanning the following QrCode:
- LBE Privacy Protection : impression of a devoted reader Romanovsky: “Thanks to this, you can control the access of each new installed application, it is also free. Effective and aesthetic, I find it really good. I’m happy with that, I always pay attention when surfing the web.”
It can be accessed on the Market Web or by scanning the following QrCode:
8/ Internet download:
The advice is simple, especially avoid downloading anything from unknown sources. Be 100% sure of what you buy, where it comes from and who it is from. For example, a compressed file (.zip, .rar, …) can contain all sorts of things and often not what you expect. So watch out.
—————————————————————————————————
DICTIONARY :
Trojan horses* : or in French, Trojan horse, as the name suggests, is software (or application in our case) that allows to steal data without our knowledge or allow a hacker to take full or partial control of the intended target. device.
IMEI* : The International Mobile Equipment Identity or the French International Mobile Equipment Identity is a unique number for each phone. This number, which you can see on the box of the mobile phone or on the sticker hidden by the battery on the back of the mobile phone, for example, allows operators to block your mobile in case of theft or loss, or simply make the famous “SOS” call if you do not have a SIM card for you.
proprietary app*: is an application developed only by rights holders. It’s like a third party app. Example for bank as mentioned above. CIC application is developed by CIC. Other apps provide access to your CIC account but are not official.
Hidden* : Cache (or cache) is a solution provided in all IT tools that use Internet browsing. This makes it possible to store certain browsing data to reduce access time during a future visit (photos, banners, etc.).
cookie* : cookies used by almost all websites and especially commercial sites are used to identify the user and allow, among other things, the tracking of the latter by the remote server. You can track purchasing habits, page views, etc. this is how we know. However, cookies also store your site access identifiers. Thanks to them, you don’t have to enter an identifier and password every time you visit (except for secure “https” sites that don’t store passwords). Cookies reside on your PC.
QR code* : as you can see in the pictures, QRCode is a set of small squares within a square. Once “flashed”, that is, decoded, they give you access to multiple information: images, texts and even websites. To use them, you first need an app that can scan them and deliver the content to you. Nothing could be easier, just type “QrCode” in Android Market. However, I recommend barcode reader it’s my favorite because it’s simple and effective!
—————————————————————————————————
Now you are ready to face the dangers of the mobile Web! I hope these few tips are useful for you, of course I wish you the best with your smartphone and see you soon 😉
Update : Adding point 7: Firewalls.
Find all our products tips by following us on Twitter and Facebook
