Read More: Google Introduces Over 20 New Security Features to Protect Users

You still need a security app on your device to fully protect yourself from phishing scams. Download dfndr security and you can block phishing attempts by activating the anti-hacking feature. With advanced AI built in — this feature can block attacks coming from your web browser, SMS, or chat apps.

The Facebook phishing tool has some advantages, particularly in identifying homograph attacks. Uh, what are those you might ask?  

Homograph Attacks
Some phishing attacks come in the form of a homograph attack. Hackers create websites with domain names that are almost identical to a brand name site, with the sole purpose of fooling someone and getting them to unknowingly input login credentials.

The only way to tell a site is fake is by examining the name of the site. A fake one usually has a letter or a punctuation mark out of place. Unless you’re watching closely, you could easily be fooled. This is where the Facebook tool comes in.

What the Tool Does
Named Certificate Transparency Monitoring, the tool is a Facebook-hosted application that any webpage owner can access for free with a Facebook account. The tool has been around since 2016 but it was recently updated it, allowing webmasters to detect homograph domains that are spoofs of their websites.

Webmasters add their domain to the tool’s dashboard which will scan the public Certificate Transparency (CT) logs. The logs have information about new domains that recently got an SSL certificate. The tool will then warn website owners about fake sites in the CT logs that use a similar name to theirs.

Will the Tool Help You Really?
As someone concerned about your security, the Facebook tool can help you identify phony websites, but in the end, it’s really for domain owners to suss out imposters. While the tool is useful, it will not actively block phishing scams lurking out there.

Once again, it’s wise to take security into your own hands, and have an antivirus app downloaded and ready to be your eyes and ears against hacking attempts.

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Windows
A simple trick for Windows is to merely place your sensitive information within a folder and then mark the folder as ‘hidden,’ which will hide it within the file explorer. To hide a folder, right click on the folder and select the properties option. Once the properties dialogue is open, ensure there is a checkmark next to the hidden label – that’s all there is to this method! When you want to view that hidden folder, simply select the view tab within the file explorer and check the option to display hidden items.

Read More: 3 Private Messenger Apps That’ll Keep It Confidential

MacOS
The process isn’t as easy on Mac and does involve a bit of time in the Terminal application. If you’re unfamiliar with using Terminal, we suggest checking out a quick tutorial first. Start by opening the Terminal app from your Applications folder and navigate to the directory in which your folder is placed. Once you are within the proper directory type the following command, followed by the enter key,’ to hide the folder: “chflags hidden [name of folder].” For example, if we have a folder named ‘photos’ which we want to keep hidden, we would type: “chflags hidden photos.”

Android
Due to the open nature of the Android platform, one of the best options for hiding sensitive data is a third-party solution. One such option is dfndr vault, an app that easily allows you to create a hidden gallery of photos and videos; it even offers a feature known as applock, which can prevent access to certain apps by letting you add a secure passcode. No need to worry anymore about friends snooping around your Tinder profile or co-workers discovering embarrassing snapshots. Android users can also take advantage of dfndr performance, which has a ‘quick cleaner’ feature to remove any private information that might be in your device’s temporary files.

iOS
If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you can choose to add your private photos or videos to a ‘hidden gallery’ built into the device. Simply visit your Photo app and navigate to the media you wish to hide, once there tap the share button (the square with the upward facing arrow), and select hide from the menu. The photo you just chose to hide will no longer be viewable from the main camera roll or any of the adjacent photo features. To view the private collection, head to your albums and locate the folder named Hidden. Sadly this option won’t keep the most curious of individuals out, but it will prevent any private images from popping up while scrolling through your camera roll.

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Read More: My Apps Gave Up Personal Info Again

One wickedly smart way to protect your Android or IOS phone is by using dfndr vpn, a virtual private network that hides your IP address and location, especially on campus Wi-Fi. With a VPN, you can keep your gaming, snapchatting, or Facebook sessions totally anonymous from snoops or hackers.

Here’s what you should know about cyber attacks before you land at college.

The Stats
Last year alone, there was an average of 12 DDoS attacks per week. These types of attacks can infect entire colleges by hitting multiple computers or devices at once, causing them to lose Internet access. Additionally, about a quarter of all colleges or universities were the victim of cyber attacks in 2017.

Devices Get Targeted
Plenty of institutions have a policy that requires you to bring your own device, which can expose any personal info stored on tablets or smartphones to potential hacking attempts. Criminals sometimes take advantage of anyone not using security apps or VPNs and hack into their devices to steal data, oftentimes planting ransomware in order to get a fast payoff.

Your devices should always have security software downloaded, as well as the right authentication methods to make sure cybercriminals have a hard time gaining access.

How Do Hackers Target College Kids
In addition to attacking single devices, hackers also target full-on networks with DDoS attacks and viruses. Phishing scams are also common, so steer clear of any weird emails that could contain malware. Make sure your password is randomized and has a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. While it feels like a hassle, change your passwords frequently, at least every 6 months during college life.

And while it’s fun to exchange files with your friends, don’t download any files when using a public computer because these are accessed by other people (ahem, potential hackers). Always log out of public computers after you use them, especially if you send a file from your smartphone to your email or vice versa.

Bad News… Colleges are Huge Targets
The main reason why hackers go after higher education institutions is that they can easily access a lot of personally identifiable information (PID) such as social security numbers, payment information, medical records, and more. Also, the average cost of a data record belonging to a university is worth roughly $200 with registration, which can net hackers money if they steal school records and put it for ransom.

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How to Check if You’ve Been Compromised
To begin, head over to Equifax’s security website and use your social security number to check if your private information was included in the stolen data. Unfortunately, Equifax does not detail exactly what parts of your private data was compromised. With the scary possibility that your personal information is going to the highest bidder, we recommend obtaining identity theft protection as soon as possible. Luckily, Equifax provides this service at no charge.

Read More: What Should You Do After Losing Your Phone?

If you have reason to believe that your passport may have been included in the Equifax breach, take a few measures to enhance your security. For example, the DMV recommends that you contact them in regards to the stolen document. A passport is an official piece of government identification that could allow malicious individuals to impersonate you.

Replace Your Passport
If you’re a frequent traveler, you can quickly replace your passport through a United States passport agency office in under 2 weeks. Otherwise, you can visit a local post office to have your passport renewed, but the process may take over 2 weeks to complete. Don’t forget to bring a secondary piece of identification such as a driver’s license when applying.

Besides replacing your passport, you should also be aware of any activity on future credit reports. If a cybercriminal decides to use your information, your credit report will log this. To be safe, consider ‘freezing’ your credit report so that none of them can be used without prior authorization.

Look Ahead at Credit Reports
If you discover possible fraudulent activity on your credit report, go to this Equifax page to report any fraudulent activity, The reporting tool will also alert the 2 other major U.S credit bureaus, Experian and TransUnion that fraud may be at play.

Equifax’s critical data breach is a cybersecurity blunder that affected us all, but with careful attention, we can all remain safe by being diligent and aware.

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Read More: The Danger of Spoofed Websites: Learn to Tell the Difference

The best way to protect yourself from cyber threats is to ensure you download antivirus software on all your devices, your phone included. For Android users, we recommend dfndr security, which has a security scan feature that combs your entire device, even the SD card, and blocks viruses or malware.

How It All Began
A cyber drive-by attack wasn’t much of a threat in the early days, mainly it was used to gain free access to Wi-Fi. Hackers would drive by the streets of a town, locate a Wi-Fi signal and If the signal was insecure, they would hack through to siphon Internet.

How They Evolved
Now cybercriminals use this same practice but in more sophisticated ways. They often target badly secured routers and first figure out the router manufacturer. Once they’ve gotten that information, they’ll next tap in and listen to the traffic and find ways to compromise the password, which eventually gives them access to a computer or phone.

With all systems weakened, the next stage of an attack is to introduce malware or a keylogger, and once this happens, tapping into someone’s sensitive information is child’s play.

A keylogger can bait a victim by having them visit a legitimate website that’s infected through a popup or ad, or by slyly redirecting the person to an infected site. Information like bank accounts, logins, or social security numbers could be discovered and used in illegal ways.

Criminals are also targeting businesses with this type of attack, which requires no user interaction at all and depends on the vulnerability of a device or modem.

In other cases, cybercriminals use ‘man in the middle’ software, by having attackers spy on victims by setting up conversations between multiple parties.

Last Words and Tips
In addition to downloading a security app, individuals and companies should update devices regularly with the latest security patches and script blocking plugins. Additionally, businesses should ensure employees don’t have local administrative access to their devices. Set them up with a separate account instead.

Other measures to take include segmenting a company’s network so that everyone isn’t running on the same server, which ensures that malware doesn’t spread throughout an entire office.

Finally, all work and personal data should be backed up as frequently as possible on external hard drives or a cloud service, which should not be left connected to the main network.

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Read More: Vulnerability Found in Alexa App, What Should You Do?

There are lots of positives to using these devices, but they may know more about you than you’d like. Here’s a breakdown of why Alexa and Google Home could be a detriment and not a help.

How It Works
These devices may not be listening to everything you say, but once you request an interaction with “Alexa” or “OK Google,” they will record you. As soon as these devices hear these keywords, they will instantly upload everything uttered to cloud servers.

The reason for this action is Alexa and Google Home need to store information in the cloud in order to respond back to you. The data is processed into machine-comprehensible instructions and the devices return with an answer to your command. For example, if you ask Alexa to read you an email or an SMS, this information could be stored on cloud servers forever.

What Else Should I Know?
An estimated 31 million Alexa devices have been sold already, as well as 14 million Google Home devices, which is a dream for marketers. Your data could be compiled and used for marketing purposes and all your data will be concentrated in a central place. Having all your data exposed in one area could make it easy for hackers and cybercriminals to target you.

What Can I Do?
You are able to delete the information that Alexa and Google Home collects about you by going to your Amazon or Google account and deleting old recordings. But, if you do this, the devices will unlearn some of the information they know about like your email account to read messages out loud or your musical preferences.

Be careful which devices you link to Alexa or Google Home. Remember that sensitive, personal information may belong to the device as much as it belongs to you. Another option is you can choose when to turn off a smart home device’s connection to your information. For example, if you’re not using an online shopping feature on your device, turn it off.

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Read More: How to Prevent Identity Theft When You’re Online

As a parent, you should ensure that your children are protected from cybercrime. If they use your Android device frequently to play games, install antivirus software on your phone, like dfndr security. This AV-TEST approved app has a full virus scan feature that checks your mobile device for any malware or potential threats, eliminating them instantly. If your child is older and you’ve generously granted him or her with an Android, be sure they have dfndr security installed and have activated the full virus scan feature.

It can feel helpless on how to protect what’s most important to you, but knowing how this faceless enemy operates gives you the power to support your children as they grow up in the digital age.

The Stats on Child Identity Theft
Listen to these sobering stats. In 2017 alone, there were more than 1 million children targeted by cybercriminals. The stolen information was commonly used to extort money from parents. $2.6 billion in losses were caused by hackers who stole the data of children, regardless of age. Out of that $2.6 billion, families endured losses of approximately $540 million, while the rest was spent by the authorities and government.

While 60% of adults who fall prey to identity theft likely knows the perpetrator (a vengeful ex-partner or cousin, for example), only 7% of children were found to be connected to a perpetrator. Another shocking stat is that 11% of households in the U.S. reported that at least one child had personal information compromised in 2017. It’s also easier for criminals to target children because their parents are unlikely to check their child’s credit report.

The Tell-Tale Signs
The Federal Trade Commission outlines some ways your child’s identity may have been stolen. First, if your child is rejected for benefits because an account was already opened elsewhere, that’s a huge clue. Another example is if the IRS sends a notice claiming your child should have paid income taxes but didn’t, or you discover your child’s Social Security number appeared on another tax form — these are both red flags to pay attention to.

Additionally, if debt collectors begin calling regarding unpaid products and services that your child never purchased or used, this could be identity theft.

Don’t Feel Paralyzed; Get Proactive
Monitor your child’s phone or your own phone to ensure apps are locked down with parental controls, so only certain apps can be opened. It’s also important to have a conversation with your child about being prudent when sharing photos, videos, or any sensitive data with friends. Having an open, honest dialogue means your children are more likely to admit sharing the wrong information or experiencing oddities when using apps.

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Read More: 5 Phishing Scams You Need to Pay Attention to

Don’t Just Use 1234
This may seem like an obvious step, but for some, it’s the last thought and often neglected. You might be tempted to think, ‘I have nothing of value on my device’ or ‘no one wants what I have,’ but you’re underestimating what you carry. Even something as simple as your email account can be used to send spam or malicious material to your contacts.

Take the time to create a secure passcode; many smartphones now offer fingerprint verification, which is unique to you and no one else. For a passcode, four digits is a decent length, but six digits are quickly becoming the new standard. Avoid repetitive numbers or easy to guess combinations – ‘0000’ and ‘1234’ are not valid options.

Use Cloud Backups for Those Puppy Photos
Your data might be safe and secure behind a passcode, but what happens to all your photos and videos? Memories from nights out with friends and special occasions could all be lost in the blink of an eye. Don’t let forgetting your phone in an Uber mean that you need to lose a world of personal memories.

No matter your smartphone platform, you can utilize a service such as Google Photos to always keep your photos backed up. A free service available for both Android and iOS, Google Photos allows you to backup all your pictures to a single, centralized location. Lose your device? No worries, merely download the app to your new device, and your memories are back.

Add an Extra Layer of Frosting to Sensitive Apps
While a passcode is a good way to keep thieves from accessing your phone’s content, it’s only one layer of security. Consider adding another step to protecting your apps, like an Applock. This type of feature allows you to lockdown specific apps with a secondary password.

Apps that carry sensitive information, such as your bank account, can be configured to have a second password, even if your device is already unlocked. Secondary lock applications also come in handy if you need to temporarily give your phone to a friend and don’t want them having rogue access to everything on your smartphone.

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1. Grabbing It Right Out of Your Hands

The preferred method for many smartphone thieves is to quickly yank the phone from a victim’s grasp. Although this may sound like a crazy idea that would never work, it’s surprisingly effective. Many people have a loose grasp on their phone and aren’t protecting it because they don’t assume someone will take it right from their hand. This also is typically done at concerts and festivals. Phone thieves will run through a crowd during a song and steal and phones that are raised above the victim’s head to record the band. So many people film or record songs during a concert so they make easy targets for phone thieves. These criminals will go through the crowd and steal phones without much of a consequence because the crowd is so tightly packed that it’s almost impossible for the victim to find them or chase after them. Keep a close eye on your phone at a music festival or event.

Read More: Going Incognito Isn’t Enough to Keep Your Searches Private

2. They’re Looking for Certain Models

You might think that a smartphone thief will grab any phone, but there’s actually phones that they prefer to steal. These phones are more valuable and will get them more money when they sell it. A phone thief will not want to waste their time and risk getting caught just to steal a phone that isn’t valuable. Some of the most valuable phone models that smartphone thieves are looking to steal are the HTC M8, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, and Samsung Galaxy S6.

3. They Look for Victims That Aren’t Paying Attention

The majority of smartphone thieves have done this before and know who to look for. The criminals are looking for victims that are distracted or busy, and aren’t paying much attention to their phone. Be sure to keep track of where your phone is even if you have a lot going on. Never leave your phone sitting on a ledge away from your or outside of your sight.

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Read More: What Should You Do After Losing Your Phone?

Start with a Powerful Software Offense
dfndr security’s anti-theft feature is a godsend if your phone is suddenly gone.  In addition to providing you with the ability to locate your device on a map, you can sound an alarm to track it nearby, or even remotely wipe your device through your Google account. It’s smart to enable the feature as soon as possible, ideally before your phone is gone. Why not do so now? 

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
We live in a fast-paced digital world, which can cause us to become stuck in our devices. Whether you’re walking down the street or sitting on a subway train, it’s imperative to remain cautious about your surroundings. Thieves will commonly target individuals who appear unaware and ‘lost in their screens.’ By the time you realize what’s happening, a thief has already grabbed your smartphone and bolted away.

Add a Password
If you ensure that your device is password protected, a possible theft might be avoided. Some thieves carefully watch individuals to see who is genuinely present but also who has an unsecured device. More advanced thieves may not care if your device has a passcode, but still, having one setup can deter the type of thief looking to make a quick buck off a stolen phone.

Any or all of these insider tricks can help you be more conscious of your belongings and still enjoy the benefits of your digital world. Let’s be honest, there are so many!

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A Dangerous Loophole in Chrome
When a website wishes to deliver notifications to your device from within Google Chrome, a small popup will appear on your screen. From here, users can either select to ‘Allow’ or ‘Block’ the website from displaying such content. Chrome is now supposed to log your decision and prevent the site from asking you again, but there’s a problem – clever web programming has found a way around this system.

One method of fighting against this type of scam is to use dfndr security on your Android device. dfndr security offers a full virus scan and an advanced anti-hacking feature; these include scanning your device from top to bottom for malware, while also preventing dubious websites from touching your device by blocking malicious links. In a short period, the dfndr lab team has detected and blocked over 10,000 attempts of the Chrome-based scam.

Due to this flaw, if a website wants to ask for repeated permissions continuously, the site programmer can merely swap between multiple subdomains until the user chooses to allow consent. Research at dfndr lab has shown this practice of websites using a slew of subdomains is an attempt to force an individual into accepting.

Staying Protected Against the Attack
Besides downloading an antivirus solution for your device, if you still stumble upon the scam, your best bet is to try and close out the webpage, so that it can no longer ask for permission requests. Do not give in to hitting ‘allow’ out of pure frustration, once you’ve done that, hackers are one step closer to infiltrating your Android.

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To begin protecting yourself from the start, consider using dfndr security, which offers an anti-hacking feature for your Android device. With the dfndr security anti-hacking feature on, malicious sites are blocked even before you have a chance to click on a link in an email or SMS.

Website Spoofing is Pretty Scary
Website spoofing is a conventional component in the criminal scam of phishing. Hackers have been creating lookalike sites since hacking was born, yet the alarm here is their methods are getting more sophisticated, so the average person can’t tell the difference between a legitimate site or a phony one. This is why educating yourself is one step away from getting hacked.

Read More: Phishing Attacks Can Be Stealthier Than You Think

The latest website spoofing trick is a technique known as a cloaked URL. By utilizing technical loopholes, a hacker can make a link in your address bar look completely genuine. Here are few things to look out for when attempting to avoid spoofed websites:

• • Double check the address bar. Many spoofers will utilize a slight typo in the web address that they hope you won’t notice. Instead of visiting ‘Money.com,’ you may indeed be visiting ‘M0ney.com.’
  • Verify the email address. Received a suspicious email? Tap on the name in the ‘to’ field to reveal the originating email address. The email may not be from who you’d expect. So it’s easy to conclude the web link may not be genuine either.
  • Keep your browser updated. Some ploys, such as the cloaked URL scam that we already spoke of is being addressed by browser manufacturers. Update your software to help fight phishing and blot out cloaked URLs.
  • Watch the language used. Not bad language, we mean pay attention to the information provided. If some of your private details seem spot on, but the rest is vague  – that’s a red flag. Watch out for emails that don’t address you by name, but instead use a generic greeting. Even spoofed websites can be full of general information that’s not specific enough – look out for that too.

Stay Safe by Staying Aware
Website spoofing is an issue that we all need to remain aware of when browsing the web. If you receive an email from your bank or other financial institution, be sure to read the link carefully before clicking on it. Even better, don’t click the link at all, but instead manually type the address into a new tab of your web browser and compare. If you’re 100% positive what lays beyond is safe, only then should you click a mouse or tap a finger to proceed.

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While email scams are still prevalent, online con artists have evolved into targeting everyone from video game users to cryptocurrency investors and organizations in virtually every industry. What’s also evolved is where they attack. Smartphone cyber attacks have steadily risen every year, nearly equal to computer hacks. 

Read More: Why You Shouldn’t Store Data on the Cloud

Learn more about some of the more frightening phishing attacks you should be aware of in 2018.

Spoofed Email Accounts
The traditional phishing scams via email are becoming more sophisticated as these messages can now beat email safeguards. Scammers are targeting users by impersonating email accounts from friends and co-workers that look like the real deal. These hackers are often taking advantage of phishing vulnerability Mailsploit, which can spoof email addresses to the user and email server.

FIFA World Cup 2018
The FIFA World Cup 2018 is only a few months away as it kicks off on June 14 and runs through July 15, marking the most anticipated sporting event of the year. Hackers are taking advantage of the event by sending fraudulent emails to victims, offering them “free” tickets and other products for free. These emails appear to be legitimate because they use FIFA’s official logo, as well as information from organizers and official sponsors to trick you into believing it’s legitimate.

SMS and Social Media
Hackers are also using SMS phishing attacks because it’s typically more difficult to protect users from these types of attacks over email scams. Clicking on a fake link may be all it takes to gather your information. Social media is also being used to con victims with fake accounts that pretend to be customer service agents for large brands. Hackers are also using phishing bots to steal your social media information and launch social engineering attacks against you or your family and friends. 

Cryptocurrency Attacks
If you have a digital wallet filled with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, hackers may be targeting you with links that download malicious files on your device and take over your “wallet” with the intent to steal your bitcoin. These often come in emails that appear to be from a digital wallet site, offering you a free upgrade to your account.

Cloud-Based Phishing Scams
Using a cloud to backup your data has no shortage of benefits, but cloud technology is still vulnerable to phishing attacks. Beware if you receive an email that appears to be from your cloud provider, asking you to authenticate your account. Though it seems like a normal procedure, it may not be. Review any past emails from your cloud service to compare, or contact support directly to check if they indeed, sent the request.

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What Are Text Message Phishing Scams?
This type of phishing scam involves a fraudulent text message that is sent to you that appears to be coming from a legitimate source. Some sources that hackers may pretend to be (and have pretended to be in the past) are your university, your Internet service provider, your email, or even your bank. They typically say that something is wrong with your account or that you need to update your login information because your security has been compromised. Then, the text message will include a link to their fake website that is pretending to be a real company. Once you’re on the spoofed website, it will typically ask you to enter your private information. The website may ask for your password, a credit card, or any other login information. Once you have entered your personal information, the hackers will use it to steal your accounts or credit cards.

Read More: 5 Unknown Phishing Scams to Watch for During the Holidays

How You Can Keep Yourself Safe From Phishing Scams
The best way to keep yourself safe from phishing scams is to be very wary of any text message you get from a “trusted” source. Very few Internet providers or universities will text you asking to update your information. In general, don’t click any link that an unverified text message number sends you. The safest way to check if the text message is real is to email or call the real trusted source and ask.

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One of the criminal methods used by cybercriminals involves repackaging apps with malware. This may seem like a confusing concept, but it’s a simple one – and it’s something to definitely be aware of as you use your mobile device. Especially since so many of us use and enjoy apps on our phones, it’s certainly something to lookout for.

When an app becomes popular – whether it is one for productivity, a game, or something in between, it’s not uncommon for other developers to put “knock offs” of that app on app stores to give users more variety. However, these choices may come with a price. Cybercriminals are frequently masking what is actually malware in these alluring apps’ packaging.

How this works is that before apps are distributed, the hackers add a malicious code to them. This could lead to issues such as premium service abuse – which causes users to unknowingly wrack up charges – to data theft and even anti-malware deactivation.

The scariest thing about this is that users will not even know that it’s happening as the “malicious” app runs on their phones. The function of the app will be likely to run exactly as an unsuspecting user would expect it to, all the while exposing him or her to harm to their device and even their personal life and finances.

Users should keep in mind that hackers are crafty. They create these apps to look nearly identical to the original, which can lead to users even downloading them by accident and not even realizing they are downloading a “knockoff”. Developers make these particularly alluring and intriguing to device users, as they are looking for any way to penetrate their device and to put their bad intentions into action.

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1. Sketchy Emails That Mimic Well-Known Businesses

Scammers love to send out fake emails that mimic the language and images used by well-known companies. These emails often attempt to trick consumers by offering them a free, in-demand item if they enter a contest, or informing them that their account has been breached, which is a false warning meant to take over a person’s account. You should also be cautious of any email attachments, even if they come from seemingly trustworthy sources, such as a coworker or a friend. If an email or an attachment doesn’t make sense, don’t click on it — the person’s account could have been hacked, and the attachment could contain malware. Reach out to the person directly and ask them if the email is legitimate.

Read More: The Most Common Viruses of 2017 and How to Stop Them

2. Unbelievable Deals? Pause Before You Buy

Fake and malicious ads and websites are especially common during the holiday season. You may see them at the top of Google search results, or on Facebook, Instagram, or another website. They typically advertise absurdly discounted items, such as expensive sunglasses or handbags, laptops, or other in-demand goods for 80% to 90% off. To avoid these types of scams, avoid clicking on any ads or links that seem too good to be true, and consider using an ad-blocker. You should also verify that you are on a legitimate, secure website before entering any information or making a purchase. Lastly, make sure to take advantage of dfndr security’s various protection features like anti-hacking to prevent you from falling victim to any online scams or fraudulent websites.The anti-hacking feature alerts you that a link is malicious and then blocks it before you even click on it.

3. Shopping Apps With No Holiday Spirit

During the holidays, many more malicious shopping apps crop up. They typically mimic well-known shopping apps or else lure consumers in by promising unbelievable deals. To avoid becoming a victim of malware or scams, avoid downloading apps from third-party websites. Further, exercise caution when downloading apps from the Google Play store, and pay attention to the language used — is it free of typos or other glaring errors? — and pay attention to the number of reviews and downloads. Lastly, when it comes to shopping on your phone, stick with a store’s official mobile website.

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An Email That Your Transaction Was Declined
While shopping this season, the last thing you want is for your card to be declined. If you receive an email that says your credit card or PayPal transaction was declined for a recent order, this is a phishing scam. Don’t click on any links or hand over your personal information. If you must check your account or the status of your order, manually type in the correct URL and log in to your account to verify that everything is in okay. You could also download an antivirus app like dfndr security to regularly scan your phone for any malware. The best feature you might want to activate in our app is anti-hacking because during the flurry of a shopping session this feature can identify and block malicious links before you click on them. Turn it on to try it:

Spoofed Two-Factor Authentication
In this phishing scam, a hacker uses a victim’s phone number and email address to assume her identity and ask Google (or another service) to reset the password for her email account. Whenever Google texts the victim with the reset code, the hacker will then pose as Google to text the victim about unusual account activity, and request that the victim send the hacker the reset code to confirm her identity. If the victim sends the reset code to the fake Google text, then she has just given the hacker the ability to access her account.

Instagram Shopping Scams
Boutique accounts have become incredibly popular on Instagram, with items often selling out within minutes. While there are many legitimate Instagram boutiques out there, you should be wary of shady accounts that try to lure you in by purchasing an item or clicking on a link. Before you shop on Instagram, make sure that the boutique you’re interested in is legitimate by paying attention to the number of followers, the seller’s language, and any reviews or websites that discuss the boutique.

Fake Promotional Emails With Coupons
Maybe you ignore promotional emails altogether, or maybe you check them for the latest sales and deals at your favorite stores. If you receive an email this season that promises an incredible deal, don’t click on any links or images in the email — it could be an email spoofing your favorite retailer. To ensure that the deal is legitimate, check the email’s language, compare the email to past emails, and go to the store’s website to find the deal or contact customer service to verify the email.

Shipping Scams
With this scam, you’ll receive a fake email from UPS or FedEx informing you that your package was unable to be delivered. To remedy this issue, the email will ask you to click an infected link or open a malicious attachment. If you receive an email like this, ignore it — these services will never email you about undeliverable packages. Further, be wary of any odd-looking emails that contain a tracking number — the link could be fake.

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How to Screen Pin on Your Android Device
In order to pin to a specific screen, follow the directions that are outlined here. It can benefit you in the long run to have a protected phone.

1. Go to your phone’s setting options. This can be found in the apps section or in the quick setting option.
2. Go to the security section in the settings.
3. Find where it says screen pinning.
4. Toggle the switch over. It should display as being green, which means it’s on.

Read More: How Safe Is It to Use Public, Unprotected Wi-Fi Networks?

Pinning Your Phone
Once you have the screen pinning option on, you can go to the page or the app to be pinned. Once there, click on the pin icon that is shown on the bottom corner of the screen. Click on this to pin the Android device to this specific area. When you click on the pin option on the screen, it will ask you whether or not you’d like to use a password to protect the pin. This is generally a good idea if you’re using it for your children, guests, or others. If you want to pin the page or game that you’re playing, it is not necessarily required. Choose a password that you feel comfortable with and save it. Every time you go to pin a page, it will ask you to enter this information.

Now you can safely lend your device to others that wish to use it, allow children to play their favorite games and apps, or just play a game without having to worry about opening another window or getting interrupted by a phone call. When it comes to being safe, you can never be too safe with the Internet and mobile devices. It is always good to have a locked phone, be wary of unsecured Internet providers, and ensure that you follow the necessary protection protocols.

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Read More: 5 Phishing Clues to Look for in Emails from Your Contacts

1. The Hummingbad Virus

This awful virus has infected over 10 million Android phones worldwide (so far) in 2017. This virus roots itself into your phone’s operating system, collects all of your personal information, and then commits click fraud on your behalf. Click fraud is when a virus makes your phone click on an advertisement repeatedly to generate revenue for the host site. This app is difficult to notice because it doesn’t slow down your phone or give you any reason to think that you may be infected with malware. The virus may be attached to an app on your phone, so be cautious of which apps you download from the Play store.

2. The Trojan Virus

This virus is tricky because it attaches itself to a harmless looking app or program. However, once the app is installed on your phone, the Trojan virus is activated and begins to spread. This virus scans for sensitive information like account information, bank information, or credit card accounts. The Trojan virus can also hijack the browser, causing your smartphone to send expensive premium rate texts without your authority. This virus is also dangerous because it can deactivate some of the applications you have downloaded or even freeze your phone altogether. A good way to get rid of this virus is by running a Full Virus Scan on your device to remove the virus. In the future, be cautious of which apps you download.

3. The FalseGuide Virus

This may be the worst virus of them all because once it’s on your phone it cannot be removed. As of now, the FalseGuide virus has infected over 2 million phones. The virus spreads through sketchy Android games in the Google Play store. These “gaming apps” have many different names and are listed under different fake developer names.

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Read More: Why Clickbait Works and How You Can Avoid It

What Is Clickbait?
Think of a piece of cheese or a dollop of peanut butter on a mouse trap. The food is the “bait” that lures the rodent into the trap. This concept can be applied to clickbait. Clickbait refers to a hyperlink or web page that somehow entices a visitor to click on the article, even though it could ultimately be harmful to them. These links usually have catchy or provocative headlines that use exaggeration or hyperbole to make someone interested enough to click on the link.

For instance, they’ll use celebrity names, phrases like “the ultimate” or “you’ll never believe this,” the promise of something like “guaranteed ways to save money,” or something along those lines. As you can see, they make the headlines as tempting as possible.

Why Clickbait Can Be Dangerous
There are many dangers and risks associated with clickbait, which is why it’s important to stay informed and protected against it. Typically, dangerous clickbait sites will ask viewers (who fall into the trap) to register for the site, entering personal information. This could include anything from one’s name, address, and date of birth to even riskier information like a social security number or credit card number. This often leads to stolen funds or serious identity theft. These sites oftentimes look legitimate, which is why it’s more important than ever to have the right protection.

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An App to Create Ransomware
This malware app is essentially a smartphone application that can be used to make custom ransomware attacks that target Android devices. The app was originally meant to be run from a computer or laptop, but now the app has been reformatted to function on a phone. Many developers call apps like this a “Trojan” or “TDK.”

Read More: How to Protect Your Data from Ransomware Attacks

It’s interesting to note that these apps only can run on Android and can only target other Android phones. The app isn’t on the Google Play store though; the only way you can access this app is by going to China’s Great Firewall hacking forums.

How Do You Use the App?
This app is a subscription-based service, so at least hackers are paying to steal data from you. When you download the app, new users can make a one-time payment for the app. New users also get the experience of communicating with the criminal service provider. This can be a big deal for newer hackers who may want advice on how to use the app. According to malware experts, there isn’t a limit on how many different virus strains a new subscriber can make once they’ve paid the subscription fee.

How to Keep Your Private Data Safe
If you have an Android, it’s really crucial that you keep your information safe from these virus strains. One way to keep safe is to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. These public networks are extremely easy for hackers to use. They can view your private data because they get between you and the network and watch everything you do.

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Once you’ve enabled the anti-theft feature, you’ll be able to remotely block intruders from accessing your phone, erase all of your data, sound an alarm, or track your phone.

Further, did you know your social security number might be on Google? While this isn’t a breach, some users have found that their information is available online and just search away. While this may sound like an episode of Black Mirror, this sort of situation can be easily preventable.

Read More: You Can Plug a Mouse into Your Android

Identify Where the Information Is From
For many, this happens in horror. They find their information online and are totally unsure as to what to do. The first step you should take is to contact Google about removing your SSN. Any sensitive information, or information posted without your consent, can be removed from search results. This includes both images and links to external web pages.

Contact the Webmaster
However, this may not be enough to prevent your information from appearing online. If the result was posted on a smaller blog or website, you’d need to contact the individual webmaster to ensure that the content is not available online. But this can be up to the discrepancy of the webmaster, who may not always be available for contact. This can then be a stressful process, waiting for replies and going back and forth to make sure that your information is removed from the current (and any archived) versions of the website.

Hope for the Best
Should the webmaster take it down, all you can do is hope that nobody noticed or stored the information in their personal files. The scariest part of this is that many can write down this information and hold onto it until they need the information, which means you could be vulnerable for a longer period of time than you think.

While it’s possible — and recommended — to remove your personal information from the Internet, it may not be enough to monitor on your own. If you store any sensitive information on your phone, be sure to use anti-theft to protect your personal information.

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Read More: Ransomware Attacks Are Increasing on Android

Should You Pay the Ransom?
On the one hand, hackers usually return stolen data if the ransom is paid since they want to maintain an incentive for paying. On the other hand, cooperating shows hackers that you’re an easy target, often leading to future attacks. The government tends to advise against paying ransoms because it benefits the ransomware “business model” by encouraging hackers to keep launching ransomware attacks.

Determine the Type
There are two main types of ransomware: encrypting and screen-locking. If you can’t open files such as documents, photos, and emails, but you can still browse the Internet and use apps, this is encrypting ransomware. If your computer or phone is stuck on the ransom note and you can’t use it at all, it’s screen-locking ransomware. On the other hand, if you can use your device normally and access most of your files, the ransomware is probably fake, and you can ignore the attack.

Encrypting Ransomware
This is the most common and, unfortunately, the most malicious kind of ransomware. First of all, if your computer is infected disconnect if from any other devices, and go offline to prevent the virus from spreading to other devices. Next, use antivirus software to remove the ransomware. This will not let you access the encrypted files, but it will stop the ransomware from encrypting more files. To recover deleted files and access encrypted ones, use online tools designed for that purpose. There are many available, both free and paid, so do some research, and use more than one if necessary. If you don’t want to handle it alone, take it to a computer specialist to help decrypt your files.

Screen-Locking Ransomware
This type is easier to handle than encrypting ransomware. Still, you’ll want to disconnect from other devices and go offline. Then, press the power button and the “S” key at the same time — this will put your computer in Safe Mode. Next, run antivirus software to eliminate the ransomware.

Finally, if you’re a victim of ransomware, remember that this is a crime and should be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 reviews the complaint and forwards relevant information to local or federal authorities. Stand up to hackers by reporting and don’t just wipe the device clean.

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The Email Address Doesn’t Match Your Records
As mentioned, hackers are savvy. They have the capability to make emails appear as if they’re from someone in your contact list, when really, they are from a different and malicious email account. Always verify that emails containing outbound links are actually from whom they claim to be from. Check the email address in your records. You’d be surprised — sometimes hackers use email addresses at domains containing dead giveaways like the word “evil.”

It Has a General Salutation
Hackers may put in a general salutation that isn’t personalized or isn’t how your friend or family member would actually greet you. It may say “Hi!” or something else devoid of a specific name.

The URL Doesn’t Go Where it Claims to Go.
Hackers know how to make URLs (that are embedded into emails) look like they’re going to direct you somewhere that they aren’t. Before clicking on a link, hover over it to verify that it is going to direct you to a trusted site or at least to where it claims it will send you.

The Email Urges Immediate Action.
Phishing emails often attempt to trick you into clicking on a link and divulging sensitive information that you wouldn’t want to be compromised. If your “contact” sends an email that seems to be pushing you towards clicking a link, filling out a form, or completing a request, be cautious.

The Email Contains Attachments
You should always be cautious when opening attachments in emails, even if they appear to come from a trusted source. Look at the attachment name, verify the email address from your records, and even follow up directly with your contact to confirm they’ve sent an attachment before opening it if you find it to be questionable. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!

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Read More: New AI Can Crack Android Pattern Locks from Afar

anti-theft
Thefts in popular tourist locations, such as (but not limited to) Mexico and Costa Rica, specifically target vulnerable foreigners. Some robberies will occur while a thief poses as a plainclothes cop and asks for credentials, which are then stolen along with valuables. Other times, nice cars harboring visible electronics will be targeted and the windows will be smashed.

However, if you activate anti-theft on your phone in advance, then you will be fully protected in the event of loss or theft. This feature allows you to remotely control your Android device and block thieves from accessing apps and media files or delete these files entirely.

anti-theft also allows users to remotely erase all data on the device, track the device’s location, and sound an alarm (to find the phone nearby). Thanks to these protective functions, thieves will not be able to locate sensitive data or access accounts within the phone. Click here to activate anti-theft now:

That’s why it’s important to add additional protection on your phone, especially when traveling abroad. The advanced protection feature will prevent thieves and viruses from disabling dfndr’s security, and ensure that your phone stays protected no matter what. Click here to enable advanced protection on your phone:

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