Apps and readily available data make transactions through your
mobile device easier than before, but are all of them as secure as
you think?
So, you’re doing a little online
shopping at your favourite cafe,
and a gorgeous pair of shoes catches
your eye. All it takes is a few swipes on your phone
and voila, it’s now
yours! Almost everyone shops on-the-go now, but what if an
innocuous transaction made on your mobile device belies a worrying
security risk? Shared public WiFi networks, unencrypted shopping
apps, and imitation websites are just some portals for identity
theft – and if you love online surfing like we do, it’s about time
you up your internet security game. Ready? Here are three basic
things to look out for.
Most of us are guilty of it (and
probably aware of the risks), and yet we’re still hooking on to
open public networks and shared hot spots with a laissez-faire
attitude. These open access points often come without encryption,
and any data sent over these networks can be intercepted by anyone
with the right tools.
If it seems and looks legit, then it
must be secure, right? Well, think again. There have been cases of
bogus websites that were imitations of government and banking sites
in Singapore – victims were prompted to key in personal information
such as passport numbers and credit card information on these fake
sites. To avoid being next on the hit list, keep an eye out for
suspicious domain hosts and websites that request for more personal
details than necessary, and delete those shady-looking emails that
could potentially download malware or spyware on your mobile
device. Better safe than sorry!
Unencrypted apps or websites are
breeding grounds for identity theft and phishing, which is why you
should always check if these sites use encrypted HTTPS connections
that make it harder for anyone to hijack personal information sent
across the internet.
Safeguarding yourselves from these risks
can be easier; Singtel makes mobile security a breeze with
the ZoneAlarm
Mobile Security app. It protects users against hackers
through unsecure WiFi networks by calling out unsafe connections
while recommending the most secure options. For Android devices,
all apps are scanned for possible malware that could come
disguised. You’ll also be alerted to any suspicious
processes running on your phone and the app helps protect your
device’s operating system from attacks.
ZoneAlarm is available at $2 per month
(U.P $2.90 per month) for a limited time only. More details can be found here.
This article is sponsored by
Singtel
source