Today we are going to talk about protecting your Android device from virus infections. Yes, just because you are using an Android device does not mean that you are safe from virus infections. In fact, a warning has been issued by the FBI about the potential for virus attacks on your mobile device. The infections can come from downloaded apps or visiting infected websites just like on a regular computer. The dangers are just as real. Remember that people more and more are relying on their mobile devices to do banking and other tasks while on the go or while watching TV and even outside while tending to your garden. These devices have proven to be a major convenience and their popularity is tempting the bad guys to write code that will attack these devices.
The effects of mobile virus infections can be similar to that of a PC, The hacker can gain control of your device or can even access your private information and passwords. Care must be taken especially when you are connecting your device to an unknown Wi-Fi network. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network while on the go, be sure it is from a reliable source. If you are not sure, it is best to find another location to connect to. Connecting to the wrong network can compromise your personal information or passwords.
There are some things that you can do to help protect yourself, and, many of these tips are similar to what you should also practice on your home PC, First, be sure to get an anti-virus program for your mobile device. Many people skip this step because they believe their Android is immune from infection. This just is not true. The free AVG app works great and does not bog down your device at all. Once installed, it will do an initial scan that only takes a minute or two and then you are protected. There are also paid versions available with more features but for most users the free version will be enough.
Another step you can take is to get to know the features of your device. You can turn off things like location finder and any other features you are not using. A hacker could potentially find your location and use the information for things like stalking and robberies. It probably is also a good idea to add a password to your device so it cannot be easily opened after it has been locked.
A lot of people like to jailbreak their devices to gain access to features that might be locked. This habit can put you at serious risk for Malware. Your device will be much more vulnerable to an attack.
In conclusion, if you decide to sell your device or even if you tried a tablet or phone and you decide you don’t like it and return it to the store, be sure you reset the device back to factory settings. This is important as another person that simply does not have your best interests in mind could access any information that you might of left on the device.
These types of attacks are not widespread at the present but with the amount of users that are buying these handy devices every day, the bad guys are going to focus more and more on your mobile device as a Malware target. Follow the same general practices that you do on your PC and you will enjoy a safe mobile experience!
Author: Joe Zelenak, Staff Writer
http://www.computergeeksonline.net/
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