With mobile devices now integral to nearly every aspect of our lives, from banking to dating, scammers have adapted and are constantly finding new ways to exploit the technology we rely on. In 2022 alone, authorities around the world detected over 17,000 unique strains of ransomware, capable of everything from locking phones to downloading your personal information.
The good news is that protecting your mobile device against ransomware attacks starts with the same common-sense approaches you use when protecting your desktop or laptop. Steps such as being wary of suspiciously urgent requests for personal information, keeping devices up to date, backing up data, and creating strong passwords all apply to mobile devices.
As always, the best protection against mobile ransomware is to avoid ending up a victim in the first place.
Six steps toward protecting yourself against a mobile ransomware attack:
- Back up your data With your data secure in the cloud, you can easily wipe your device and restore your data in the event you’re attacked.
- Buy only legitimate apps Fake apps can infect your mobile device with ransomware. Protect yourself by using only the Apple App Store or Google Play and avoiding third-party stores.
- Keep devices and apps updated Security patches and updates are designed to protect against the latest threats. Installing them as soon as they’re available can help you avoid becoming a victim.
- Avoid suspicious downloads Be wary of phishing attacks with urgent requests to download something. Legitimate security patches don’t try to frighten you.
- Stay informed Keeping up to date on the latest malware attacks can help you stay vigilant and protect you if you should get targeted.
- Install anti-ransomware software There is a wide range of trusted companies that offer software that can detect ransomware and help protect you from an attack.
Keeping you informed about how you can avoid a mobile ransomware attack is another way Credit Union ONE is helping to protect you, your data and your finances.