Tag: Online safety

  • Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on Both Android & iPhone

    Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on Both Android & iPhone

    Today Hacking news is nothing new on the board . This could be due to weak or no firewalls for the systems. In case of emails, they might not have strong passwords. In the recent years, there have been hacking even on Bank accounts. The high number of hacking on personal computers or phones is due to misuse of internet and visiting unsafe or irrelevant websites and even downloading not so reputed apps which have some secret hacking enabled on them. So it is really a must to do list on your devices to Prevent Malicious Spying Apps .

    In this article, we will thoroughly study about :

    • What are the Malicious spying apps
    • How to Prevent malicious spying apps
    • How to Prevent malicious spying apps on Android
    • How to Prevent malicious spying apps on iPhone
    • How to Identify & prevent malware apps on phone
    • How to Identify apps that spy Bank details
    • Apps secretly hack Bank account

    Let us learn each topic in detail.

    What are the Malicious Spying Apps

    The devices which are always online are normally the victims of the so-called malicious spying apps. For example, certain social networking apps were caught for silently absorbing the user’s complete contacts to other servers.

    It is safe to download apps from both Apple’s App Store and Google PlayStore. However, there are some malignant apps hiding in these official stores.

    Most Android phones are becoming victims of harmful apps and it has been drastically increasing. Though Google PlayStore is believed to be safe, such dangerous apps sometimes crawl unknowingly and create a space in the app store. Google Playstore has detected two harmful apps in the PlayStore- Skin Care Magazine and App Play Store.

    These apps are designed in a way that it can silently take away your text messages or the SMS. Certain scammers are waiting to steal your personal information, thus leading to identifying a theft or similar dangerous results.

    This is how a scam works: When an app is installed, it starts downloading certain harmful plugins from a local website. Safe apps retrieve plugins the same way via other sites. This way it seems quite difficult to identify the malicious apps.

    Prevent Malicious Spying Apps 

    Under this topic, we will look at some key points to stay away and be protected and Prevent malicious spying apps .

    • App Stores : It is important to keep your device away from certain third-party app stores as they assess certain apps so as to make it easier for scammers to spread the damage intended software. The safest way to download the apps is through Google Play & Apple’s App Store.
    • Have strong anti-virus software : Anti-virus software is indeed the best way to block the malware from harming your device.
    • Check the apps’ developer : It is very important to check the developer of the app you are trying to download. Duplicate apps will have a different developer name when compared to the actual app’s developer. Hence, it is ideal to check the details of the app’s developer via Google Search.
    • App Reviews : The app stores will always have reviews on popular apps from other users. There can also be reviews from experts, online. This way we can differentiate the malicious apps. If the review gives the warning of the app being malicious, do NOT download it.
    • Update your device : It is quite important to ensure of having the latest security and operating system updates. The updates include certain areas to protect the device from threats.

    Follow the things discussed to Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on your device .

    Prevent Malicious Spying Apps On Android

    Have you felt that someone is spying on u? Is your phone’s battery draining out?Are web pages taking time to load due to internet traffic? It is time to check if your phone’s data is protected by the latest security software. Privacy is quite a big issue and you realize that the personal data is no longer “personal”. If a person accesses your phone, it will be easier to spy on you via a hidden app on your phone.

    These malicious spying apps can control the camera on your phone, get your location through GPS tracker, check the contacts, read private text messages and also listen to your conversations over the phone.

    Read Also : Android: Prevent apps from running at startup(Stop/Disable Apps)

    Here, we will have a look at some free Android apps to prevent the phone from spying apps . If you follow these tips you can Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on Android –

    • Anti Spy Mobile Free : The Anti Spy Mobile app enables you to solve all the spying problems. It is a free anti-spyware scanner for checking and removing spyware apps hidden on your phone. Its professional version can be upgraded; thereby getting automatic background along with fast scanner plus status bar notification.This app uses the recently updated detection techniques that can check even the new Spywares found online.
    • Hidden Device Admin Detector : This is a scanning tool to detect malicious spying apps having the privileges of a device administrator and are hidden from being viewed. Malicious apps on Android devices can control the weaknesses so as to protect them from being found or removed.The app checks the device for the hidden harmful software help in removing the settings of device administrator and hence removing the malware completely.
    • Privacy Scanner (Antispy) : This app was designed to check the smartphone to know if you are being spied on. The parental controls and the surveillance apps are verified; as they are used to spy on your family members via GPS tracking techniques, read contacts, call history, calendar etc. The app checks SpyBubble, eBlaster Mobile, UonMap Spy, a few parental control apps and surveillance apps. It checks by using certain doubtful permissions such as reading SMS, profile, contacts etc.
    • Stop Spy:-Anti Spy Checker : The app enables to check if you installed the software as well the spy software, quickly safely and accurately. If the spyware is found, this Antispy checker enables to remove it from the device.
    • SMS/MMS Spy Detector : The app quickly scans those apps that send or write SMS/MMS/WAP messages automatically.

    Read Also : WannaCry Attack Security Tips- Protect computers from Ransomware

    By this way you can Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on Android phone

    Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on iPhone

    It’s not just the Android phones that are attacked by spyware. Even iPhones become the victims of such malware. These iPhones are connected to a remote iPhone spy app, which keeps a close watch on every move you make.

    Let us see how to find the spyware on iPhone , mean what are the ways to Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on iPhone –

    1. Can others spy on my iPhone ? Wondering if others can spy on your iPhone? Well, then it’s a YES. It is really easy to spy on iPhone without your knowledge. The best example is an ad, wherein you are asked to click on it to win prizes. A similar instance is a mail, saying that you have won prize money for a contest that you never took part in. If your data is really valuable, then you need to be alert to such ads. Once you click on these ads, you never know in what ways would your data be exposed and to whom. Anyone can get spied on. The motive of spying varies from one person to another. This means that people spying on you will never have good motives. Hence, you need to watch out who has ‘Eye Spy’ on you.
    2. How to detect spyware on iPhone ? A very important fact you need to know is that a spyware spying on you will make sure you don’t catch the ‘culprit’. So the developers designing this spyware has to set it in a way that it is not caught easily. If you ever feel someone is really sneaking, you need to be more alert and not give too personal data to undeserving person.
    • Unexplainable Data usage : Did you observe that your data usage has been on the lower side recently? The core reason is the data consumption by spyware on the phone. Spywares send data to the spy, which means that every time you send a text message or talk over the phone, the spy automatically receives the information. So, you need to keep a record of the data all the time.
    • Phone Heating up : The main cause of the phone heating up is that there is an app working in the background without your knowledge. Spywares are apps that work in the background, no matter whether you are using or not. In such situations. you must refine the untrusted apps by removing them from the phone, thereby keeping only the relevant apps.

    Read Also : Battery Health : How to keep your phone or tablet battery healthy

    • Background noises : If you ever hear unbearable noises in the background while having a conversation, it shows that you have been spied on. Spywares are designed in a way that it interrupts your active calls with background noises. You should take steps to get rid of such apps on the first hand.
    • Cydia app : This app shows that your iPhone is not safe anymore. If you did not protect your iPhone from being spied on, then it is too late to have concentrated on your personal data. The main drawback of this app is that it is not easy to detect on your phone. The ultimate solution to protect your phone is to update the iOS system.
    • Encrypted Text messages : Spying apps are designed to control the phone via remote through certain encrypted text messages or commands. In case of spying apps designed with good quality, the messages or commands should not be viewable by the spied person. On the other hand, in some fake apps, these messages could be viewed. Hence, when you see funny messages on your phone, start planning about the privacy of your phone and the data.

    3. How to remove spyware from iPhone ? Considering the amount of information a spyware could retrieve from your phone, all you need to do is ensure that such apps are completely removed from your iPhone. You will be glad to hear that these spying apps can be removed like any other apps. Let us look at some ways to prevent malicious apps on iPhone.

    • Install Anti-spyware program : This is the simplest way to remove such harmful spyware apps. These programs examine the phone and remove them.
    • Update iOS System : This is yet another method of keeping the iPhone away from the spyware apps is by updating the iOS operating system on your phone. As a company, Apple makes out when the threats appear and that is the reason the programs are always up-to-date. Once the iPhone is updated, you can easily detect the spywares and can be deleted using the old operating system. Hence it is important to always update the iOS software.
    • Restore your iPhone : Restoring your iPhone will also help you in removing the spyware. However, you may be reminded that the restoring process erases all the existing data from your iPhone. Hence you need to ensure that you have saved a copy via iTunes.

    Read Also : Factory reset iPhone without password or iTunes with data backup

    By this way you can Prevent Malicious Spying Apps on iPhone.

    How to Identify & Prevent Malware Apps on Phone

    A phone is said to be infected when you see the following symptoms:

    • Unexplained data usage
    • Poor performance
    • Low battery life
    • Unable to answer calls

    You can prevent Malware Apps on your phone in following ways –

    • 360 Mobile Security : Full scan of your device is essential to get rid of spyware. It can be set to Manual or automatic.
    • Avast! Mobile Security : This software checks the device, either manually or as per the schedule set. As you browse, it checks and blocks the infected links and also keeps a close watch on the traffic for threats.
    • AVG Antivirus Security : AVG’s app checks the new files and apps for certain possible threats like the malware, spyware and certain viruses. It also recognizes unsafe settings, thus giving suggestions to connect security holes

    Read Also : Google Datally App to Control Mobile Data & WiFi Finder

     Identify Apps That Spy Bank Details

    You can prevent your bank account from theft and protect bank account from spy apps by following the proper guidelines .

    Also it is mandatory to Identify Apps that Secretly Hack Bank Account.

    In this article, we have seen certain harmful spying apps, how it affects Android and iPhones. We also covered topics like how to Prevent Malicious Spying Apps. Moreover, we learned about certain spying apps that access the Bank account secretly.

    Read Also : Safe Online transactions Tips & top 12 safe online transactions methods

    Hope this article has been helpful to you. Enjoy a ‘hack-free’ time.

  • Password Checkup Chrome Extension to detect unsafe passwords

    Password Checkup Chrome Extension to detect unsafe passwords

    Are you using Chrome browser then you must know about this latest Chrome extension – Password Checkup .

    Google has always tried to improve user security and safety . We have seen google notifying us about our least secure passwords on google apps and products . This is the case that applies only to Google accounts , but what is the case with other non-Google website , apps and products which we use daily . How can we detect unsafe passwords used on websites / apps .

    We can make use of Password Check up Extension for chrome in order to detect unsafe passwords on other websites .

    Data breaches and black market of online credentials like username , passwords commonly used are a serious threat to data security . This puts any user under the threat or may even make users prey of a cyber attack , hijacking , hacking etc .

    Use of repeated and common passwords increase your risk . But how well we knew about the leaked and least secured password combinations ? To solve this issue Password checkup helps you out well .

    Password Checkup Chrome Extension

    One of the best chrome extensions for online safety . Password check up identifies unsafe passwords (least secure / repeated passwords ) . It doesn’t store or save your password and user credentials . I mean this is not a password manager , it just act as a adviser or checker to ensure you are entering each and every website with a safe password.

    How Password Checkup Extension Works ?

    Password Check up works for Chrome as a chrome extension . It works well for all websites not exclusively for google related accounts . It is not working as a password manager . It actually alerts unsafe passwords and unsafe user credentials without affecting your privacy . This extension doesn’t track user . In case you enter some random username and password the extension identifies if its no longer safe to use . If its unsafe then it alerts you to change / reset password . It check passwords and username have appeared on any third party data breaches as well .

    How to Use Password Check up Extension ?

    Let us see how to install password check up chrome extension . First go to chrome extensions .

    Now as show in the image open chrome web store in a new tab .

    Open Chrome Web Store in new tab
    Open Chrome Web Store

    Now in the search the store box type password checkup .

    search the store for Password checkup Extension
    Searching for Password checkup

    Now click on Add to chrome .

    Now a dialog box pop ups there click on Add Extension .

    Add Extension for Password Checkup
    Add Extension for Password Checkup

    Now the extension is added to your chrome .

    In the password checkup extension settings you can make necessary setting change like you can limit the use of password checkup for particular websites or even extend it to all sites .

    That’s it hope this is useful to everyone .

  • WhatsApp Security Scams and How to Protect Yourself

    WhatsApp Security Scams and How to Protect Yourself

    Whatsapp, who doesn’t use it right? Its like the most famous messaging app out there. Everyone from the younger ones to the eldest in the families use it. It is used you in all spheres from personal to professional. And with each passing day its getting improved for better , thus attracting more users. Even though there are so many best alternatives to WhatsApp , this application doesn’t lose its users . Recently Whatsapp Security has become a question of concern for its loyal users with the rise of Whatsapp Security Scams .

    WhatsApp Security Scams Alert
    Whatsapp Dangers and Scams

    WhatsApp Security Scams

    But with all this amazing features and extensive usage all around the globe there are some people who try to harm the users and scam them in some way. There are a number of scams on whatsapp which you need to be aware of and those are as follows :

    Read Also : WhatsApp Data Sharing Disable Methods to Protect WhatsApp Data

    Whatsapp gold scam

    Sometimes the scammers slide a link into your inbox claiming it to be the link for downloading the Whatsapp gold version. The scammers claim that you have the exclusive chance to use the gold version WhatsApp which is used by the celebrities with much more Latest WhatsApp features.

    But what you get in return is no gold version rather a device infected with some kind of malware.

    But what you get in return is no gold version rather a device infected with some kind of malware.

    Whatsapp gold version for celebrities scam
    Whatsapp gold scam

    The best way to stay away from this scam is to know the fact that whatsapp can never send you such a link. Secondly, if you have already been a prey to this you can download some antivirus.

    So make sure you are not downloading the wrong version of the app while you upgrade Whatsapp version . Because this is a common WhatsApp Security Scams found these days.

    Read Also : 10+ Best Alternatives to Whatsapp you will love this year

    Free vouchers

    Who doesn’t like free vouchers, right? It is the easiest way to scam anyone these days and whatsapp is full of such scams. If you receive any voucher either from Asda, Tesco or Marks & Spencer, its for a fact that its not from them since these never giveaway vouchers like these. It appears to be sent from actual number but its fake.

    Free vouchers scam on Whatsapp
    Free WhatsApp Vouchers Scam

    To be aware of such Whatsapp security scams you can look out for grammatical and spelling errors in such messages.

    Read Also : App Lockers for Android to Improve your Privacy

    Pay for renewing your Whatsapp

    Its like the oldest Whatsapp security scams , but you can still fall prey to this even now. Whatsapp is a free app so make sure you don’t have to pay anything to use this . The message asks you to forward some kind of message to other active users within 48 hours else you will be charged .

    Whatsapp Renewal Scam asking Money for updating / renewing Whatsapp
    Whatsapp Renewal Scam

    Inorder to stay safe from this scam you just have to understand that whatsapp doesn’t ask you to pay or forward any messages .

    Call this number to transfer WhatsApp Number

    This is a recent Whatsapp scam as compared to other ones. You may receive a message or call mentioning that you have initiated a request to transfer Whatsapp number , in case you haven’t made a request then there will be a number given to call to confirm that you haven’t requested to transfer Whatsapp number. Just ignore all these kind of messages .

    Transfer Whatsapp Number Scam
    Whatsapp Voice Call Scam

    To stay away from such scams never call on the given number since it is a premium number. Also transferring contacts to other device has no role for whatsapp whatsoever.

    Pdf, Excel or Word attachments with Malware

    The scam involves that the message received contains some kind of attachment and requires you to download it but it actually has some kind of malware. Downloading it just infects your phone.

    Attachment scam on WhatsApp screenshot of malware document shared on Whatsapp
    Whatsapp Attachment scam

    To stay away from such scams never open files and attachments from unknown sources and just delete such messages.

    Voicemails

    Like earlier, you may receive some voicemail but as soon as you click on listen button leads you to some website downloading malware in your device. To be safe never open voicemails from unknown sources.

    The spy app

    The message contains link for downloading an app for viewing the conversations your friends are having with other people. But link downloads some malware into your device. To stay away from such scams know for a fact that all the conversations on whatsapp are encrypted and cannot be read by anyone except the sender and receiver.

    There are number of people out there ready to scam you in one way or the other. The best  way to not to fall prey to such scams is not click on anything until you don’t know its source or something appears malicious to you. And if you have an anti-virus in your device just in case some malware attacks your device. But beware of these type of Whatsapp security scams online .