Scams and hackers: solutions for your Android smartphone

Viruses, Trojans, worms, malware ... Many terms are back to only one thing: your safety.

It's not because you're on a smartphone you are protected against virtual bandits. On the contrary! And what makes the work easy for some of them, it is precisely the ignorance of this problem are all real.

This is why I will guide you through some important points to help you avoid disaster. But be careful, I do not cry wolf, cases of fraud on mobile devices are particularly rare and happily. However, remember the adage that says "it does not happen to me" and be still cautious.

At the end of this article you will find a glossary, defining words underlined, bold and followed by an asterisk (eg * ).

1 / Applications "free" of the canvas:

And it is logical: do NOT download applications on the web. Their free will seduce you but certainly many of them contain  Trojans * to search, find and unwittingly send personal information (passwords, browsing history,IMEI * phone ...). 

2 / S on online bank account:

What better mobility and especially to see his bank account anywhere? To do this, do not use the web browser but rather prefer an application provided by your bank. I said again: provided by your bank.

If it does not, do not close on one of these applications (mostly paid) that met several banks and allow the self to check its records and other balances. If such application is not available, forget it. You will look the way home on your PC or at an ATM in town.

3 / Buying online:

As for the bank, use proprietary applications * to shop online! Ebay or Pixmania offers an application. This allows you to buy safe.

4 / The Internet browser:

As often as possible, think clear browsing history, the hides * and cookies * whenever you finished surfing. This will delete the data more or less sensitive than you may have created for your navigation (passwords, addresses, ...) in such forms.

5 / Downloading apps from the Android Market:

Freedom of the operating system Google has a price: a monitoring applications posted on the Market not deep enough. That is why, when you download an application, check out the "rights" that this application (see screenshot). If they seem too intrusive, go your way.

For example, as you can see to the application Uloops, it has the permission "Phone calls" which is described as access to phone functions (serial number, IMEI number, the call, ...). This is a sample application here has forgotten because it exceeds its primary function is to record audio. So it has nothing to do with your phone data.

     

6 / Antivirus.

Yes, like on the PC, there are some antivirus that scans your smartphone to seek, find and destroy any virus or trojan. Here is a list of the best among them. Personal opinion of course, it will be up to you to make your choice:

• Norton Mobile Security  : the full version is 39 €, as much as a PC protection. It allows among others the scan of your mobile but blocking it remotely in case of loss or theft.

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode * below with your mobile:

• Anti-Virus Pro : AVG has no reputation to € 3.63 and provides for an ideal solution to protect you.

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode with your mobile:

• Lookout Security & Antivirus: with a 5 star rating issued by 179,145 users, this application is one of the best of its kind ... and free!

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode below:

7 / The firewalls:

What is a firewall?

More commonly known as Firewall, English as a term much used word computer (bug, trojan, ...), it creates a "barrier" between your phone and Internet connection. This "barrier" filter the incoming content following a certain criteria most often defined by levels (low, medium and high). If you have an antivirus on your PC, it must also include this feature, as my McAfee Security Center.

On an Android smartphone, the process is almost identical but for the applications. Indeed, the firewall you will or will not allow access to the Internet for all the applications installed on the smartphone.

However, these firewalls require full access to the mobile called "root". So that you can have, do not hesitate to seek the method according to the model of your mobile on our  forum .

I present you the two best firewalls available on Android:

• DroidWall : as pointed out by our reader Philip DroidWall is undoubtedly the star of the firewall. Not only because it is free, but also thanks to its complete integration Wi-Fi and 3G.

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode below:

• eNETraffic : Developed by Domodo LTD, a leading management applications and other tools, ENETraffic allows you to view the data sent and received by each of your applications and as DroidWall to block access to the Internet via the firewall option. Available only with 2G/3G mobile networks and not WiFi Very complete, very aesthetic, but also free.

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode below:

• LBE Privacy Guard : printing Romanovsky, a faithful reader: "With it you can control access to each new application is installed, again, it is free. Efficient and aesthetically pleasing, I find it really well. I am satisfied that, I'm always careful when I navigate on the Internet. '

Available on the Web Market or by scanning the QRCode below:

8 / The Internet download:

The advice is simple, do not download everything and anything, especially from unknown sources. Be 100% sure of what you take, where it comes from and who it comes incidentally. Eg a compressed file (. Zip,. Rar, ...) can contain all sorts of things and more often than not what you expected. So be careful.

:

Trojan * : Trojan Horse or French is, as its name suggests, a program (or application in our case), which can fly, without anyone noticing, data without our knowledge or allow an attacker to take full or partial control of the target device.

IMEI * : International Mobile Equipment Identity or Identity International Mobile Equipment of French is a unique number for each phone. This numro you can see on the box or on the mobile label located on the rear of hidden mobile battery allows operators eg block your phone in case of theft or loss or simply to to be able to call the famous "SOS" if you do not have a SIM card.

Proprietary application * : it is simply an application developed by the rights holders. Like a third-party application. Example for the bank as mentioned above. The application is developed by CIC CIC. Other applications provide access to their account CIC but are not official.

Cache * : cache (or cache) is a solution for all tools using the Internet browser. This allows to keep in mind some navigation data to reduce access time during your next visit (photos, banners, ...).

Cookie * : used by almost all web sites and especially e-commerce sites, cookies are used to identify the user and allows, among other monitor it by the remote server. This is how we know the shopping habits, pageviews ... But cookies also keep in mind your access to the sites. It is thanks to them that you do not have to enter it each visit a username and password (except for sites "https" secure that do not record passwords). Cookies are in your PC.

QRCode * : as you can see on the pictures, QRCode is a set of small squares in a square. Once "flashed", that is to say, decoded, these give you access to a wealth of information: images, texts or websites. To use them, you must first application able to scan and deliver you the content. Nothing more simple, you simply enter "QRCode" on the Android Market. I suggest, however, Barcode Scanner which is my favorite as simple and effective!

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So there you are now equipped to face the dangers of the mobile web! Hope these tips have been helpful you, I wish you obviously take great pleasure with your smartphone and I say to you very soon

Updated: addition of point number 7: Firewalls.