Smartphones and tablets are part of the routine of most of the population and have become indispensable for the daily activities of many professionals. But as these devices have become more popular, cyber attacks have also grown. According to a survey by Kaspersky, there was a 50% increase in the volume of invasions of mobile devices in 2023 compared to the previous year. 33.8 million attacks were recorded worldwide in 2023, while in 2022 there were 22 million occurrences.
“Just as is the case with computers, once they are connected to the internet, mobile devices are also exposed and susceptible to invasions. Therefore, the recommendation is that the user should have the same caution on their phone as they do on the computer when accessing unknown pages or links, avoiding the installation of viruses and other threats that can lead to data leakage,” highlights Fábio Fukushima, a cybersecurity expert and director of L8 Security.
He explains that criminals use many ways to invade devices. Among the most common are those using malware, which includes viruses, trojans, spyware, and ransomware. In general, these softwares can be installed through downloads of unreliable applications or malicious links.
Another well-known attack is phishing, which usually starts with an email or message containing a link or malicious attachment from a fake website, pretending to be a known page. “In these cases, the goal is to deceive the user into providing sensitive information, such as passwords and bank data, for example, which could be used in other cybercrimes,” warns Fukushima. “There are also vulnerability exploits, where hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system or applications to gain unauthorized access to the device,” he adds.
One of the main recommendations to avoid this type of action is to only install essential apps available in official stores such as Google Play or Apple App Store. The expert gives three tips to increase the protection of mobile devices.
- Keep software updated: make sure your smartphone’s operating system and all apps are always up to date. Updates often include security fixes that protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Use two-factor authentication: enable two-factor authentication on all accounts and apps that offer this option (banking apps, email accounts, social networks, and messaging apps). This adds an extra layer of protection, requiring a second factor (like a code sent to your phone or use of code generator) in addition to the password.
- Install a reliable antivirus: use a reputable antivirus software to protect your device against malware and other threats. Many antiviruses also offer additional features, such as phishing protection, app scanning, and Wi-Fi network security.
“Another commonly used entry point is connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. This can expose the device to man-in-the-middle attacks, where hackers intercept data transmitted between the device and the network, thus stealing important user information. Therefore, the recommendation is to avoid connecting to untrusted networks,” emphasizes Fukushima.
