Virus protection on phones: (Why) do we need it?

The most important point is that there is no device or computer system that is not hackable. This means your phone. Over 482,579 Android viruses are created every month. As an example, there was an Android Trojan codenamed FlyTrap. In just three months it was detected in over 140 countries (and counting). Viruses are spread through social media hijacking and sideloaded applications (third-party app stores). These attacks target personal information. Their main aim is to harvest login usernames and passwords. This can give access to your financial information such as card numbers and bank account details. The hackers either use the data themselves or they sell it to third parties.

What is the nature of the beast?

Let's have a look at the main types of threats that you will face in a little more detail. Most of the known Android malware and viruses are usually installed piggybacking on other applications. We will see how phone virus protection can help you. You won’t usually find such apps in the Google Play store because all apps are checked by PlayProtect. Android has a default setting that doesn’t allow apps from unknown sources. Apple and iOS are the same.

Is there a difference between iPhone and Android?

The answer to one of the most popular questions asked online: The answer is a big “Yes” and this is down to how the operating systems work. Android is open source code whereas iOS is not. App developers don’t have access to the iOS source code nor do the owners. This makes Android phones inherently more vulnerable to malware. Do you need antivirus programmes on an iPhone? Apple limits the reach of any app on the system. It does this by having apps in separate containers. In other words, apps on the iPhone can’t interact or interfere with each other, nor can they “take over” your phone like they can on a desktop system. This makes the iPhone more secure. If you are running your Apple devices on factory settings then the answer is no, you do not need phone virus protection. With Android the answer is a little more nuanced. Phones need to be protected from viruses

When should I use antivirus software?

Do you use your phone for work or is it a dedicated work phone? If the answer is yes then the chances are you should look for some additional form of phone antivirus protection. With a work phone the chances are that you are storing sensitive information such as passwords, confidential emails, business critical information and banking details. These would be quite costly to lose if you are hacked. Android phone antivirus software can be useful as second level of security for any SME or business.

What are the benefits of antivirus software?

There are advantages to having an extra layer of protection on a works device or a phone with an older, unsupported OS. In addition to this many antivirus programmes for mobile phones have additional, useful features. Many free antivirus software for android or iPhones allow you to locate your phone with an audible alarm or via GPS. Many apps also allow you to lock your phone or delete any sensitive data you may have on your phone. Many apps will alert you to possible malicious websites and help reduce the possibility of picking up malware. The phone antivirus software will also help locate and delete any malicious code already on your phone and scan for it regularly. A point to note. The mobile phone antivirus apps are only useful when they are regularly updated and have an internet connection.

What is the best virus protection to use?

There are a range of apps on the market from all the leading AV Software providers. Many offer free android antivirus and free iOS antivirus along with paid packages. As a SME you will want to look at MDM smartphone packages and they will usually be billed monthly. You can compare MDMs and contrast a range of packages to suit your individual business needs.

What about a lost phone?

If you or your staff are prone to losing your device, you can protect your device with Android Antivirus or iOS apps. They will protect as well as locate your phone and can remotely wipe any confidential data. Allow two factor authentication on all accounts. If hackers do manage to get the password they’ll still have trouble logging in. The extra level of security, the “second factor” of authentication is a random number generated by an app or texted to your phone number. This can be a lifesaver with sensitive business data and is a key factor in MDM protocols. If you want maximum security you can turn on the option in settings that will erase your entire phone after a certain number of failed passcode attempts. If you turn on this setting, just be sure your phone is regularly backed up. All data will be erased if someone types in the wrong passcode 10 (iPhone) times or 15 (Android) times. Keep in mind, if you have kids this option might be tricky since they are known to try many passcode attempts and could mistakenly erase your phone if you have this security protocol activated.

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