Targeted advertising isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They could be the result of the app developer practicing something called “targeted advertising.” Is your phone suddenly displaying too many pop-up ads? These ads commonly appear in disreputable apps and services, but they’re not always a sign of a hack or cyberattack. Bonus: Pay attention to an increase in ads It’s common for modern smartphones to allow apps to boost their functionality by accessing various internal systems – data storage, call logs and even your phone’s camera are just a few examples.Īlthough many apps use these options to offer new features and usability, an unsafe app might try to delete files from storage, capture the contact information of your friends or take pictures of you and your surroundings without your knowledge.Īvoid giving access to any app that asks for too many permissions, especially if the app isn’t from a reputable developer. Be wary of apps that ask for many permissions Only agree to an apps terms and conditions if you’re comfortable with all of the details.ģ. Of course, that means you’ll need to read through them before you hastily tap Accept. This information should be listed in the Terms of Agreement or License details. Note: To find the information for items 1 and 2, you’re going to need to slow down on your download. Most smartphones come with the option to disable location tracking, but this often results in the loss of functionality or other useful features. ![]() Some apps have a legitimate reason for tracking the user’s physical location.īut poor coding within many of these programs makes it possible to take advantage of this feature for nefarious purposes. Understand when and why the app will track your location Is this app on your phone? Click here to get the steps you need to immediately delete it. The app – which has been downloaded more than 100 million times – was recently caught spying on its users so it could sell that information to advertisers. It’s important to note here that even legitimate, safe-looking apps can have ulterior motives for your data. Any utilities that use your data in this manner should be avoided at all costs. If a particular app is sharing this information with other sites or services, it could be a malicious program. Information like your email address, phone number and mailing address should all be kept safe and confidential. Find out how the app uses your personal information If you’re unsure, look for any one of the warning signs listed below to help spot potential threats and malicious utilities.ġ. It’s headlines like these that make following the advice we’re about to give you so important. To combat these emerging threats, all smartphone users must verify the safety and legitimacy of any apps before downloading them. Malicious apps found spying on your private text messages.Two-stage spyware attacks triggered by malicious apps.43 Disney apps spying on kids: See the list here. ![]() To prove our point that downloading new apps to your phone or tablet is a risky business, here’s a handful of stories we’ve covered in the last few weeks alone: ![]() Even Facebook has been accused of using its app to spy on users. And that doesn’t even count the number of legitimate apps that are found to be collecting your information. Especially, if you use an Android device. If you’re following the Happening Now section of, then it should be no surprise you that fake apps are popping up all the time. Viruses and malicious programs used to be limited to desktop PCs. However, as the popularity of cellphones began to rise, and as smartphones began offering high-speed internet access that is comparable to many of today’s home connectivity options, some cyberattacks began focusing their efforts on the world of mobile apps.
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