You should use an antivirus program for your smartphone

In recent years, the applications for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have multiplied.

And that was always accompanied by the amount of stored data you have almost always and everywhere. So if this data came into the hands of third parties unauthorized, then this would be at least as unfavorable as it would be on the home PC. For a long time, however, it was so that we could all weigh ourselves in safety, because on the one hand the distribution of the devices was not so great, and also hackers first had to learn to access the operating systems of smartphones.

These times have changed drastically.

In Germany alone, in the year 2018, 57 million people (at least) use a smartphone professionally and privately. The proportion of Google’s Android devices was in the same year with about 83% at the top, followed by Apple iOS by about 16%. The remaining percentage goes to Windows Phones.

If you look at these values, it quickly becomes clear that Android devices are probably the number one attack target for hackers. For a long time, iPhone users felt quite safe, as little or no reports of attacks were reported, but here, too, the numbers have increased significantly in the past.

Why it makes sense to ensure adequate protection for viruses on Smartphone & Tablet, and what are in our view the best candidates for it read in our article.

You should use an antivirus program for your smartphone

In recent years, the applications for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have multiplied.

And that was always accompanied by the amount of stored data you have almost always and everywhere. So if this data came into the hands of third parties unauthorized, then this would be at least as unfavorable as it would be on the home PC. For a long time, however, it was so that we could all weigh ourselves in safety, because on the one hand the distribution of the devices was not so great, and also hackers first had to learn to access the operating systems of smartphones.

These times have changed drastically.

In Germany alone, in the year 2018, 57 million people (at least) use a smartphone professionally and privately. The proportion of Google’s Android devices was in the same year with about 83% at the top, followed by Apple iOS by about 16%. The remaining percentage goes to Windows Phones.

If you look at these values, it quickly becomes clear that Android devices are probably the number one attack target for hackers. For a long time, iPhone users felt quite safe, as little or no reports of attacks were reported, but here, too, the numbers have increased significantly in the past.

Why it makes sense to ensure adequate protection for viruses on Smartphone & Tablet, and what are in our view the best candidates for it read in our article.

1. How do viruses get on your smartphone / tablet?

Of course, since a smartphone is optimally networked in all directions, it offers a whole range of access options for hackers in order to access data.

E-Mails

For e-mails that are not received as a plain text message, but in HTML format with images and special formatting – which is also the standard – can already be included in downloading the images in such a mail malware. Therefore, caution should be taken with emails from unknown senders.

Also file attachments always involve a certain risk as soon as one opens these. Mostly file attachments with malware in ZIP or RAR format are sent as a compressed file. If you have a good antivirus software installed, this also protects your mail program and can avert damage in advance.

Note:
File attachments from unknown senders sent in ZIP or RAR format are generally to be deleted unopened. Because we have not found a serious provider of such files sent.

Apps from insecure sources

Although the Appstores of Google and Apple actually offer far more useful and useless apps than anyone actually needs, but now and then it just happens that one is asked to load an app from a third party.

At least here you should be suspicious, because if developers do not upload their app in the official Appstores (where they are usually tested) should also address the warning lights. Although the Appstores are not 100% error-free, they are definitely less risky than apps from insecure sources.

Messenger Services & MMS

Messenger services such as the top dog “WhatsApp” are predestined to send malicious software in bulk. And of course, the news disguised with tempting content, of course, you do not want to miss.

Here we recommend for some time (for privacy reasons alone) either another messenger such. Threema to use, but also additionally to protect the whole thing about a virus scanner.

And even the good old MMS can bring pests on the device, since there is also the possibility to transfer files and multimedia content.

Wi-Fi hotspots

Most public Wi-Fi hotspots sprouting from the ground like mushrooms since the abolition of disruption liability are also like a trench where the head is constantly looking out. Because in most cases (in favor of accessibility) these are not covered by the operators at all.

If you’re on a public Wi-Fi network without any protection on the move, it’ll open the door for attackers.

On the subject of risks in WLAN hotspots we have written a separate article.

Unsafe websites

As well as on the home PC, of course also on mobile devices unsafe and even dangerous websites can be loaded. And once you have landed on such a page, sometimes after the page has been completely loaded, the child may have fallen into the well.

Because the graphics and animations contained there can also contain malware that will be active immediately. Use an anti-virus that does not even call dangerous websites, but warns you immediately of the impending danger.

Of course there are other ways to get malicious software on your smartphone. Basically, all the technical ways your device offers to store files on it are suitable.

But the above are actually the most used ways. Often you do not even notice that there is a pest on the device that is spying on data and forwarding it to third parties.

And if then partly only because the device works sporadically slower than usual, or the battery empties faster than usual. At least here is a look in the energy management of the smartphone to see which app or component has consumed the most energy.

Of course, since a smartphone is optimally networked in all directions, it offers a whole range of access options for hackers in order to access data.

E-Mails

For e-mails that are not received as a plain text message, but in HTML format with images and special formatting – which is also the standard – can already be included in downloading the images in such a mail malware. Therefore, caution should be taken with emails from unknown senders.

Also file attachments always involve a certain risk as soon as one opens these. Mostly file attachments with malware in ZIP or RAR format are sent as a compressed file. If you have a good antivirus software installed, this also protects your mail program and can avert damage in advance.

Note:
File attachments from unknown senders sent in ZIP or RAR format are generally to be deleted unopened. Because we have not found a serious provider of such files sent.

Apps from insecure sources

Although the Appstores of Google and Apple actually offer far more useful and useless apps than anyone actually needs, but now and then it just happens that one is asked to load an app from a third party.

At least here you should be suspicious, because if developers do not upload their app in the official Appstores (where they are usually tested) should also address the warning lights. Although the Appstores are not 100% error-free, they are definitely less risky than apps from insecure sources.

Messenger Services & MMS

Messenger services such as the top dog “WhatsApp” are predestined to send malicious software in bulk. And of course, the news disguised with tempting content, of course, you do not want to miss.

Here we recommend for some time (for privacy reasons alone) either another messenger such. Threema to use, but also additionally to protect the whole thing about a virus scanner.

And even the good old MMS can bring pests on the device, since there is also the possibility to transfer files and multimedia content.

Wi-Fi hotspots

Most public Wi-Fi hotspots sprouting from the ground like mushrooms since the abolition of disruption liability are also like a trench where the head is constantly looking out. Because in most cases (in favor of accessibility) these are not covered by the operators at all.

If you’re on a public Wi-Fi network without any protection on the move, it’ll open the door for attackers.

On the subject of risks in WLAN hotspots we have written a separate article.

Unsafe websites

As well as on the home PC, of course also on mobile devices unsafe and even dangerous websites can be loaded. And once you have landed on such a page, sometimes after the page has been completely loaded, the child may have fallen into the well.

Because the graphics and animations contained there can also contain malware that will be active immediately. Use an anti-virus that does not even call dangerous websites, but warns you immediately of the impending danger.

Of course there are other ways to get malicious software on your smartphone. Basically, all the technical ways your device offers to store files on it are suitable.

But the above are actually the most used ways. Often you do not even notice that there is a pest on the device that is spying on data and forwarding it to third parties.

And if then partly only because the device works sporadically slower than usual, or the battery empties faster than usual. At least here is a look in the energy management of the smartphone to see which app or component has consumed the most energy.

2. The best virus scanner complete packages

While there are a number of free virus scanners from more or less well-known manufacturers even in the Appstores of Apple or Google to load the good protection promise, but often they fail in the simple tests already miserable, or even open in the worst case, additional vulnerabilities, which has definitely saved you in the wrong place.

Because really nothing is free in life. Even free antivirus software has a price that you often have to pay at least in the form of annoying advertising.

An exception that achieves quite acceptable results is AVG’s antivirus software. However, you have to accept here also in the free version always cuts in the quality and scope of service.

The solution:

Today, almost all well-known manufacturers offer good to very good complete packages for several devices, with which you can partially secure up to 10 devices. As a result, you will buy a good antivirus software, and thus have several PCs, smartphones, tablets and notebooks in the bag, instead of having to purchase a separate software where you pay more in the end than for a complete solution.

While there are a number of free virus scanners from more or less well-known manufacturers even in the Appstores of Apple or Google to load the good protection promise, but often they fail in the simple tests already miserable, or even open in the worst case, additional vulnerabilities, which has definitely saved you in the wrong place.

Because really nothing is free in life. Even free antivirus software has a price that you often have to pay at least in the form of annoying advertising.

An exception that achieves quite acceptable results is AVG’s antivirus software. However, you have to accept here also in the free version always cuts in the quality and scope of service.

The solution:

Today, almost all well-known manufacturers offer good to very good complete packages for several devices, with which you can partially secure up to 10 devices. As a result, you will buy a good antivirus software, and thus have several PCs, smartphones, tablets and notebooks in the bag, instead of having to purchase a separate software where you pay more in the end than for a complete solution.