Because your smartphone is a treasure… for cybercriminals
Oh, surprise! Cell phone attacks not only still exist, but they are worse than ever. According to the latest report from Kaspersky (yes, those that warn you when you click on the wrong link), more than 12 million devices were infected in just three months. The figure? A lovely 36% more than the previous quarter. Because, of course, what would life be without a little cyber excitement?
And not content with that, the hackers decided to give us 180 thousand malicious files (how generous!). An increase of 27% compared to 2024, because in the world of digital crime, inflation also hits hard. Cybersecurity experts are “concerned,” but probably also a little exhausted from repeating the same thing over and over again.
Trojans, fake apps and other “surprises”
Among the favorite villains this season is Mamont, the banking Trojan that disguises itself as a legitimate app as if it were a wolf in sheep’s clothing… but digital. Their mission: steal credentials, messages and any data you need. The prize? May one day you wake up with your bank account emptier than a politician’s promises.
But it doesn’t all end there. There is also Triada, the malware that comes from the factory on counterfeit cell phones (because buying cheap is sometimes expensive). This little demon can change cryptocurrency addresses, intercept messages, and take control of your device as if it were its own. Isn’t that adorable?
And as if that were not enough, now there is a new Trojan disguised as an app to watch free movies (because we all know that nothing on the Internet is really free). Once installed, ask for administrator permissions as if you were the owner of your life. Spoiler: it is not.
Fabio Assolini, from Kaspersky, sums it up perfectly: “Many believe that their smartphones are more secure than computers”. Spoiler again: they are not. App stores are not a sanctuary either, because that’s where fake apps go with reviews as invented as an influencer’s resume.
How to prevent your cell phone from becoming a digital zombie?
Here are some tips that, if you ignore them, you are basically signing your digital sentence:
- Download apps only from official stores (unless you enjoy viruses like someone who collects stickers).
- Check comments and ratings, even if some are as fake as a Monopoly ticket.
- Don’t give unnecessary permissions, because if a flashlight app asks for access to your contacts, something stinks (and it’s not your cell phone).
- Update your system and apps, because patches are there for a reason (and it’s not to waste your time).
- Use an antivirus, because trusting luck is like playing Russian roulette… but with your information.
In short: if you don’t want your cell phone to become the next bot of a criminal network, act before it’s too late. Because hackers don’t sleep… but you should be able to sleep peacefully.
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