Millions of smartphones are hacked into on daily basis and subjected to malicious malware or viruses that interfere with their proper functioning or in a worst-case scenario, collect personal data and use it to commit fraud.
Therefore equipping yourself with proper knowledge could go a long way in securing your smartphone before it’s too late and it’s malfunctioned or it lands you in trouble.
Here are the types of viruses that could attack or be logged in your smartphone:
1. Worms
The scariest thing about this virus is that it doesn’t use any form of user interaction to activate itself. It is mostly spread through MMS and SMS text messages and its objective is to reproduce and replicate itself across as many devices as possible. Sometimes it also presents itself as misleading instructions. It’s important to acquire an antivirus application to counter it.
2. Trojans
It is mostly used to obtain sensitive personal information by hackers like login credentials and bank details. It comes attached to a legitimate app and activates itself once the app is installed. If uncleaned it can paralyze the phone or deactivate apps. Hummer virus and skulls are the most popular Trojan viruses.
3. Phishing
If you check your emails, social media sites, bank account or any other site that requires login authentication credentials via your phone, you are at a risk of housing this virus. This malware imitates an original login page in a bid to obtain legitimate login credentials that may be used against you later.
4. Spyware
As the name suggests this virus is created for the sole purpose of spying on you or obtaining personal information through your browsing history, downloads and preferences. It disguises itself in form of a legitimate app and the information collected is relayed to third-party data marketing firms for target marketing purposes but may also be used to harm you.
5. Ransomware
Once it gains access to administrator privileges like passwords on your device, it requires that you pay some form of ransom so as to regain control of your device. Downloading apps from third-party insecure sites puts you at a high risk of housing this virus on your smartphone.