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Mobile phone users risk the chance of having their private information accessed by unscrupulous elements due to malware they intentionally or unintentionally install on their devices.
Like the Pegasus spyware put on mobile devices by clients of Israeli spyware software firm NSO, malicious apps can enable criminals to have access to the conversation, photos and documents of mobile phone users.
According to Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA, criminals can also have access to bank details of mobile phone users and also their passwords through such spyware and apps.
Collard said, “Other mobile threats such as banking malware for example use a similar process to the Pegasus spyware to get to users’ devices.
“For example, many of these types of malware get installed by people clicking on a link that they received via SMS or WhatsApp and end up downloading a malicious app that could result in advertising click fraud, mobile ransomware, banking trojans or in some cases, even roots or jail breaks their phone to obtain full remote control over the device. The malware then allows for the criminals to listen to calls, take screenshots and see what the user types – catching passwords and banking details.”
Criminals use social engineering tools and approaches to lull users into a false sense of security. Pretending to be anything from a parcel tracking link to a banking confirmation link, these malware messages are designed to provoke people to make impulsive mistakes. And these mistakes can lead to your device being completely compromised, putting you and your financial security at risk.
“These smart malware infiltrations are designed to get past people’s defences,” says Collard. “Another form of distribution is taking advantage of devices that have not been updated or exploiting vulnerabilities on the phone or in apps that do not yet have patches. It is really important to ensure that your mobile devices are updated, and to ensure that you minimise risk by removing unnecessary apps, only downloading apps from official apps stores and by avoiding clicking on links from your mobile device.”
Mobile phone users are advised to watch what they click to prevent their device from being infected with such malware.
They are also advised not to trust unexpected links and ignore callers pretending to be from a bank or mobile phone service provider.