Limit your download sources to official app stores, such as your device's
manufacturer or operating system app store, to reduce danger. Installing
untrusted corporate certificates or downloading from unknown
sources is not a good idea.
Not Checking App Permissions
Make sure you understand what information an app will access before you download it.
Examine the permissions the app is requesting and decide whether the data it is
requesting is relevant to the app's purpose. To find out if or how your data will
be shared, see the app's privacy policy. If the app's policy is unclear about who
it shares your data with or if the permissions request looks excessive, skip it.
DO'S
Review carefully
Cyber-criminals rely on individuals opening links or tapping "download"
without thinking, like they do with so many other attacks. Before you
download, do some quick investigation to see if there are any warning
indications that the software is harmful. Check out the developer—have
they released any other apps with a lot of downloads and positive
feedback? A legitimate program will normally have a large number of
reviews, whereas malicious apps may only have a few (fake) five-star
evaluations. Finally, check the app description and pictures for errors
and poor grammar. They could indicate that the program was thrown together
rapidly by a hacker.
Go with a Strong Recommendation
Getting a recommendation from a reputable source, such as a well-known publication
or app store editors, is much better than going through user reviews yourself. In
this situation, an experienced reviewer has completed much of the vetting
job for you. A simple Google search for "best fitness apps" or "best apps
for travelers" should bring up articles from reputable websites that may
recommend solid options and discuss them in depth before you download.
Use Security Software
With all we do on our phones, it's critical to install security software, just like we
do on our PCs and laptops. You'll have malware, web, and device protection on your phone
whether you go with complete security software that covers all of your devices or
download an app from Google Play or Apple's iOS App Store.
See also: Security
Update your phone’s operating system
Keeping your phone's operating system updated goes hand in hand with installing security
applications. Updates can address vulnerabilities that hackers use to launch malware-based
attacks—another it's tried-and-true way to keep yourself protected and your phone working
smoothly.
