Mobile Malware Explodes in 2013

Mobile Malware Gains Ground in 2013

The numbers are out: McAfee's report on viruses in the first quarter of the year shows mobile malware, which exploded last year, is showing no signs of stopping. Smartphones, which just recently outnumbered “dumb phones” worldwide are increasingly becoming the targets of the same sorts of viruses and malware that we've worried about on our computers for years. McAfee, a large security firm owned by Intel, reports that 28% of all malicious smartphone software has appeared in the first quarter of 2013. The year previous saw a huge spike in which the rest of the 50,000 programs emerged, although some estimates claim there are up to a million mobile viruses at the time of this writing.


The most common form of mobile viruses is the age-old Trojan Horse virus. This virus pretends to be another sort of software and coaxes the user into installing it. After being installed, it spreads throughout the system and locks down many of the phone functions, essentially turning the phone into a zombie under the control of the hacker. The zombie phone will then send out text messages to infect its next targets. For instance in South Korea, a widely-spread virus poses as a coupon app for a coffee shop and then takes control of the user's phone.

There are a number of security products for smartphones on the market. One such app is AVG's Antivirus for Android http://www.avg.com/us-en/antivirus-for-android. It will also help you locate your device in the event that it's lost or stolen. It's only available for Android, which is also the only system that runs a high risk of infection. However, some research shows that mobile antivirus programs aren't nearly as effective as their PC counterparts, due to the way antiviruses access the phone's system http://www.informationweek.com/security/antivirus/does-mobile-antivirus-software-really-pr/240008673.

The best antivirus for iPhones running iOS is Lookout Mobile Security, which is available for free. While there are fewer viruses on iPhones, Lookout also notifies you of connections to unsecured networks and allows you to track your phone if it's lost.

So how do you tell if you have a piece of this mobile malware? The warning signs are largely the same as on PCs: applications will start to slow down and strange things will start happening. Make sure you've installed an anti-virus first, but if it's gotten past that, you may be out of luck. Call a phone repair company or use a service like Sugar Sync to back up your personal files from your phone and follow your provider's instructions to reformat and reinstall your Android phone.

For now, the best way to keep your smartphone free of mobile malware relies on vigilance from you. Make sure not to download any apps that you didn't go looking for. If it comes to you, it's probably too good to be true! Make sure to only download from authorized sources. And as always, don't give your passwords to anyone you don't trust. If it looks sketchy, it almost certainly is! If you think you may have been the victim of mobile malware, call a smartphone repair company that can salvage your data and restore your phone.

Smartphone Driving Apps

Smartphone Driving Apps - The Best Out There

You certainly shouldn't ever use your phone to text while you're driving, and making calls is possible with Bluetooth but risky. However, there's no reason to turn off your Smartphone all the way while you're driving. USA Today reports on a few apps that make using a Smartphone in the car practical. Our computer repair Nerds checked them out so they could give you the scoop on Smartphone driving apps.


All Inclusive:  The first and one of the most full-featured is Waze. Waze has been making big ripples on the grid for a while now, even being featured in the recent Facebook Home launch. The app allows you to connect with other drivers sharing the same stretch of roads as you, while simultaneously being an excellent navigation tool, complete with maps. But the coolest feature is the ability to get exclusive traffic reports created by other Waze users. If another Waze user (or Wazer) sees a road hazard, police officer, or other relevant information, they can report it to the service and others in the area can take heed. The app also allows chatting between users, although you'd better let the person in the passenger seat take care of that responsibility! It's available for free for iPhone and Android

City Minded:  The next app is a bit more city-driving-focused. It's called ParkMe, and it does what its name promises. It will find you the closest and cheapest parking in the area, and shows you what's available right now. The prices will appear on a map and you can choose to navigate to the best one for you. It's free for both Android and iPhone

And if you have an iPhone and park in metered areas more often, Honk will allow you to check time remaining on your meter and provide directions back to your car when the time is up.

Performance in Mind:  All of these apps are great and can enhance your driving experience. But there's one more that blows the rest of the apps out of the water. We didn't include it at the top since there's a bit of a price attached: $69.95. It's called Automatic, and the price is actually for a hardware dongle that connects to your car's computer. It will work with just about any car sold in the US since 1996, but it upgrades it to a luxury car. Not only does it have a GPS app built in, but the link hardware lets you know how to drive better. It tells you when you brake roughly, speed, or accelerate too rapidly. Tweaking your driving can take hundreds off your gas bill. On top of that, it will call 911 if you're in a crash, saving precious time or possibly saving your life. And when that "check engine" light comes on, it will report what the status code means and tell you exactly how to fix it. If you can't fix it yourself, it will also locate nearby mechanics. If the problem is just the check engine light, you can turn off the light within the app. On top of all this, it automatically detects where you parked and can guide you back. If you share a car with someone, both of you can put the app on your phone and can coordinate car sharing from within it.

 

Mobile Security: Protecting your Phone

Mobile Security for your Android Phone

Two Easy Steps to Protect Yourself
Whether you’re one of the millions of Americans that already owns a mobile handheld device (like a Smartphone, tablet or iPod Touch), or you’re hoping Santa slips one under your tree this year, there’s something you likely haven’t put much thought towards: mobile security.

 

According to a report released by Forrester Research, it’s estimated that 46% of all bank account holders will utilize mobile banking services by 2017.  Even if you aren’t accessing your bank or credit account from your handheld device, you likely have email; social networking and a multitude of apps that give a would-be thief plenty of valuable information should they get a hold of your phone or tablet.  Take a few easy steps to protect that information from loss or theft.


Step One:  First, enable a pass code lock that requires a code or pattern be entered when your phone or tablet is reactivated from sleep mode.  I know, you’re thinking, “what a hassle to have to enter a number or trace a pattern every time I want to use the phone,” but keep in mind that most thieves are looking for an easy target.  If the gadget they snatch turns out to be locked, someone looking to steal data is likely to abandon the endeavor rather than go to the effort of trying to hack past the lock screen.

 

Apple devices (as well as many other handheld gadgets) offer the option to erase all data in the event that the wrong code is entered more than ten times.  This safety measure immediately brings to my mind the image of my son relentlessly pressing buttons trying to get to his games until my phone is made useless.  However, if you’ve taken the precaution of backing up your data and apps to a cloud application (such as iCloud, SugarSync, etc), even an errant data wipe isn’t tragic.

 

Step Two:  Next, utilize a mobile security application that allows you to control your phone or tablet remotely in the event it is lost or stolen.  Look for one that shows your gadget’s approximate location (provided your device is powered and you have GPS activated) on an online map.  If it’s somewhere in or around your home, use the software to activate a repeating alarm beep to help you find it.  Should you discover it’s at your local Starbucks, or worse, in someone else’s possession, the application should allow you to remotely lock the phone, post a message on the home screen with your contact info, or if necessary remotely wipe your data.

 

iPhone, iPod and iPad users should activate Apple’s Find my iPhone (or Find my iPod/iPad). It does all of the things listed above; best of all it’s free and comes pre-installed on all current iOS mobile devices.  If you didn’t enable it when you activated your device, navigate through the Settings menu to the section for iCloud, then the Find My iPhone (iPod/iPad) option. Toggle the switch to ON. When prompted to allow the application to access your location, select Allow.

 

Avast! Free Mobile Security (www.avast.com/en-us/free-mobile-security#tab3) is a great free option for Android users. It runs silently in the background so it's difficult to detect or remove and can survive hard-resets. In addition to the features listed above, it includes a siren that gets louder if thieves try to turn it off and call forwarding so you don't miss a call or text while your phone is MIA.  If an unauthorized SIM card is detected, the phone will lock, activate the siren and send you a notification containing the phone's new number and geographic location.  All the anti-theft settings are able to be modified remotely, so they're easily customizable to your particular situation.

 

Andrea Eldridge is CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, an on-site computer and laptop repair service for consumers and businesses. Andrea is the writer of two weekly columns, Nerd Chick Adventures in The Record Searchlight, and Computer Nerds On Call, a nationally syndicated column for the Scripps-Howard News Service.  She regularly appears on ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS on shows such as Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Arizona and MORE Good Day Portland, offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets.  Andrea recently has begun working with Demand Media to produce content for eHow.com and has written a book for them Smartphone101: Integrating your iPhone into a Windows World. Andrea is available for Q & A’s, expert tech quotes and will appear on your show, call today! See Andrea in action at www.callnerds.com/andrea.