Tips for downloading apps safely
Today there are many apps for everything – instant messaging, retail, banks, social networks, publishing. However, not all are what they seem. Some are designed to steal your information.
When a person installs the malicious app, it may ask them to “log in with Facebook” before they can use the features it promises. If you enter your details, the malware steals the username and password.
If login information is stolen, attackers can gain access to the person’s account and send messages to their friends or access private information.
Here are some tips for downloading apps safely:
- Read user ratings and reviews. If there are negative comments, review the reasons and investigate the causes, it may be that other users have identified problems in the app that you could avoid.
- Review the permissions and data requested. Each app will request permissions depending on its function. For example, it is normal for a photo editing app to request access to your photo gallery; however, it would not be normal for it to ask for access to your microphone. If an application requests access and data that do not seem to be for its correct operation, it is best to avoid it.
- Download from official sites. If you are going to download a banking application, for example, it is best to enter the official site of your bank and allow it to redirect you to the official app. The same for messaging or retail apps. We also recommend that you pay close attention to the logo, as sometimes it can be a copy.
- Update your device. This action reinforces your security and if the operating system detected any flaw or threat, it is more likely that it will disappear if you update the device.
How to know if your account was affected?
Agranovich shared that if you think you have downloaded a malicious app and logged in with your social media account details, it is recommended that you uninstall the app from your device immediately and follow the instructions below to secure your accounts:
- Creates a new strong password. Never use the same password for different services or websites.
- Activate the two-step authentication preferably using an authenticator app, to add an extra layer of security to your account.
- Turn on login alerts to be notified if someone is trying to access your account. Be sure to review previous sessions to ensure you recognize the devices that have access to your account.
