With your smartphone, you can download an app for almost anything. There are apps that help with your banking, apps that allow you to shop, apps that keep track of your calendar, and apps that are there purely for entertainment. However, there are also apps out there that have been made solely for the purpose of exploiting those who unknowingly download their malicious software. Luckily, there are a number of precautions you can take to keep this type of thing from happening to you. To show you how, here are three things to be aware of when downloading a new app to your smartphone.
Read The Privacy Policy and User Agreements
Although the privacy policy and user agreements may appear to be there merely to give you another hoop to jump through before you can use the app you want to download, the Mason County Press advises not to just click through or skim these agreements. If there is something amiss with the app, whether it’s wanting access to something on your phone that appears unrelated or sharing data collected from you with certain third parties, you have a good chance of being able to pick up on that information while reading through these agreements that we all sign but rarely read. So the next time you’re about to agree, make sure you know exactly what it is you’re agreeing to.
Only Use Trusted Sources To Get Apps
Regardless of the type of operating system your smartphone uses, there is a registered or certified way for you to purchase apps directly from your phone. This could include the Apple App Store or Google Play. And according to GreenBot.com, these are the best ways to download apps. Entities such as these put apps through screening to ensure they’re safe for being downloaded. When you download apps for an unknown or unreliable source, you take the chance of putting your phone and all the information it contains at risk of being hacked. Rather than take this chance, be sure you only download apps or other material from trusted sources.
Signing In Through Other Social Media Accounts
Once you’ve downloaded an app, the first thing most of them have you do is sign up or register with their services. To make this easier, many developers have made it possible to register using your social media accounts. However, according to Riva Richmond, a contributor to Entrepreneur.com, it’s a good idea not to use this feature when first signing up in your app. If there is some kind of malfunction with the app or something malicious taking place behind the scenes, you could open yourself up to have all that other information held within your social media profiles jeopardized.
If you’re unsure about the safest ways to download apps to your smartphone, use the tips mentioned above to help you start taking steps in a safer direction today.