Cybersecurity: three tips to protect mobile devices

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, in 2023 there was an increase of 50% in the volume of mobile device invasions, compared to the previous year. Worldwide there were 33.8 million attacks in 2023, while in 2022 there were 22 million occurrences. 

“As 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 has on the phone the same caution that he has on the computer when accessing unknown pages or links, avoiding the installation of viruses and other threats that can generate a leak of data”, says Fabio Fukushima, cybersecurity expert and director of L8 Security.

He explains that there are many ways that criminals use to invade devices. Among the most common are those that use malware, which includes viruses, trojans, spyware and ransomware. In general, these software can be installed through downloads of untrustworthy applications or malicious links. 

Another well-known attack is phishing, which usually starts with an email or message that contains a malicious link or attachment from a fake website, impersonating a known page. “In these cases, the goal is to trick the user into providing sensitive information, such as passwords and banking data, for example, that can be used in other cybercrimes”, Fukushima warns. “E there are also exploits of vulnerabilities, in which hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system or in applications to gain unauthorized access to the” device, he adds.

One of the main recommendations to avoid this type of action is to install only the essential applications that are available in official stores such as Google Play or Apple App Store. The expert gives three tips to increase the protection of mobile devices.

1. Keep software up to date: make sure that the operating system and all applications on your smartphone are always up to date. Updates often include security fixes that protect against known vulnerabilities.  
2. 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 (such as a code sent to your phone or use of a code generator) in addition to the password. 
3. Install a reliable antivirus: use reputable antivirus software to protect your device from malware and other threats.Many antivirus also offer additional features such as phishing protection, application scanning, and Wi-Fi network security.

Another widely used gateway is the connection 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 information from users. Therefore, the recommendation is to avoid connecting to unreliable networks”, Fukushima points out.