Security

How You Can Stop Viruses Before They Start

Viruses can take on many forms, from physical sickness to technological maladies. Some recent outbreaks of malware have affected popular search engine sites and downloads from sources across the board. There was an alarming number of outbreaks from virus families in 2016, and with some diligence and caution, we can reverse the spread and run a clean operation for Android devices everywhere. Here are some ways to begin that process now.

Download Antivirus Software

Viruses are common, but there are many ways that you can prevent them from infecting your phone, or remove any that slip through the cracks. Click here to run a full scan on your device for the latest malware:


Be Wary About What You Download

Malware doesn’t always infiltrate someone’s device in an obvious way. Some people can invite it in unknowingly, through downloads for software or games. Check the credibility on whatever downloads you are looking into investing in. Even if it’s as simple as reading online reviews about the app’s performance. Further, if an app or game has few downloads, or is suspicious-looking, don’t download it.

Update, Update, Update

Running outdated apps makes it easy for viruses to infect phones, since hackers have had time to create ways to tamper with these old app versions. Always make sure that you are running the current version of every app on your phone. With each update you’ll receive crucial bug fixes and security patches that will protect your device.

Watch out for new versions of software, virus protection, and even app updates. This will ensure that all the services run to the best of their ability. Just be sure that your phone is charged, or near an outlet that it can use to charge, so nothing is lost in the initial update. Performing this action right before bed is a smart option, or when the phone can lay idle for hours at a time.

Watch out for Public Wi-Fi

Using public Wi-Fi is always risky, because it is difficult to know who is sharing the platform with you. Hackers are capable of breaking into phones, tablets, and computers that all share the same network. They could cause serious damage. That’s why it’s crucial to protect your valuable, personal information. If you must log onto public Wi-Fi, do not do anything personal on it, such as access sensitive documents, send an email, or make online payments. Save all of that for your private network. You can also utilize Wifi Check to discern the security of the public network you’ve joined:

PSafe Newsroom

The dfndr blog is an informative channel that presents exclusive content on security and privacy in the mobile and business world, with tips to keep users protected. Populated by a select group of expert reporters, the channel has a partnership with dfndr lab's security team. Together they bring you, first-notice news about attacks, scams, internet vulnerabilities, malware and everything affecting cybersecurity.

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