Hackers are finding new ways to steal your personal information off your phone.
By the end of next year, cell phone companies expect most Americans will have smartphones.
Experts warn hackers are getting ready to take advantage.
NBC25 wants to help you be smart when it comes to protecting your smartphone.
“The first thing people need to know about their phones is they are just like a computer,” says Verizon Wireless Retail Sales Manager Mike Jingles.
That means that just like a computer, your phone is vulnerable to spyware, malware, and viruses. Once your phone is invaded by such things, hackers can steal valuable information off your phone.
To protect yourself be careful what you click on. Click on the wrong link, or download the wrong application, and not only your phone, but the phones of anyone listed in your contacts could be compromised.
“I’ve seen instances where someone will download a malicious application and that app will not only send their info out, but will send info to contacts, saying, ‘hey download this,’ to continue the process,” says Jingles.
To protect yourself, before downloading an application, check out star ratings and comments. Hopefully if the application is malicious you’ll be warned by other consumers.
Be wary of applications that need access to your contacts without reason. While an anti-virus app that backs up your contacts may need access, or a ring tone app that connects certain tones to certain contacts may need access, a game probably would not.
Because contacts can be invaded, even if you get a text or e-mail from a friend recommending a link or application, you may want to check with that friend to make sure they actually sent that link or text.
Lastly, it is a good idea to download a high-rated anti-virus application. Many phone companies recommend Lookout. It periodically checks your phone for viruses and keeps an eye on applications you download, scanning them to see if they are malicious.
