Why You Need Antivirus For Your Smartphone...Yes, Really!

You probably think we're crazy by even suggesting that antivirus may be required for your smartphone. We install a variety of antivirus and security software to protect our computers. So, why wouldn't we do the same for our smartphones? For some, their smartphone is their life. It holds even more valuable and highly confidential information about them, more than their home computer does.

The truth is though, while our mobile phones are generally secure, you're potentially still vulnerable to attack, which is pretty worrisome. After all, think of how much data we keep on our phone. Bank details, passwords, private information and appointments. Ultimately, our entire lives are run by our devices these days.

Think of all the different kinds of malware (malicious software) that are floating around in the online world. There are viruses in which are codes meant to infect your device after you install tainted software. Quite commonly you get a virus when downloading through the internet or opening unknown email attachments. Viruses are basically there to render your device inoperable.

There's adware, which sometimes you don't even realize you've agreed to download it. Typically, adware is mixed in with legitimate software, making it difficult to see where it originated from.

Then there is the growth in malvertisement (malware mixed into advertisement). Cybercriminals will buy out ad space on a legitimate website and infect it with malware. So, when you click on an enticing ad, you are in fact downloading malware. Some infected ads do not even require you to click on them. Simply loading the screen or hovering your cursor over the ad will be enough to infect your device.

The listed malware is only a few of what is actually out there. It's never a bad idea to be overprotected while on the internet. However, whether you need antivirus software for your mobile device is dependent on what sort of model you have, and how you use it.

Android users are indeed more open to attack, with the Google Play store being a little laxer when it comes to the apps featured in the store. There is the chance of coming across apps infected with Android-specific malware. Despite that, it's highly unlikely you would end up downloading malware. However, should you regularly download apps from outside the Play store, then you could be a little more open to attack.

If you tend to do a lot of downloading outside the Play store, that is when antivirus will come in handy. There are dozens of excellent antivirus software applications on the market, with sites such as securethoughts.com highlighting the very best. Because of how common malvertising is getting, finding software that protects against it is essential. Apps that stop ads from popping up and loading in the first place are ones to look for.

However, this doesn't mean iOS users are completely safe though. More and more hackers are working hard to beat the technology and operating systems, meaning antivirus is more crucial than ever.

The old tale that Mac computers were invincible when it came to viruses and malware is no longer true. You do need to have antivirus software on your Mac. So, wouldn't it make sense then your iOS device would need it too?

Typically, though, an Apple phone is relatively secure since Apple pays close watch to the App Store. But, if you jailbreak your iPhone to download outside the App Store, you're best to download antivirus software. Unfortunately, finding true antivirus software for a jailbroken phone is relatively tricky and hard to tell which one to trust.

Today, we connect more to public Wi-Fi networks and stream more than ever before. The truth is, it might not be the apps we download onto our phone that cause the issues. It can actually come from the network connections we come across in public places.

We don't know who else is connected to the same public network, let alone the network is who it says it is. Anyone can create a hotspot and change the name to your favorite coffee shop. Anyone could be waiting in the same airport as you, or on the same mode of public transport, and they could well be trying to break into your system. Connecting to the wrong network can leave your device vulnerable to threats and malware.

It's also there when it comes to the bog-standard phishing emails too. While we're not claiming you'll fall for the Nigerian prince routine, phishing emails are becoming far more sophisticated and with our email accounts very much integrated with our smartphones, and they are just as much at risk as a PC or laptop would be.

Nowadays, phishing emails and scams are taking the shape of trusted websites and companies. Major banks across the country, and even the world are warning their customers of scam emails claiming to be them. It's a lot easier to fall for those types of scams since they look and act like something you trust. But, in the end, they infect your device and go after personal banking information.

Virus protection will add that extra layer of security to devices that are generally quite good when it comes to security. Antivirus for smartphones is almost an extra comfort blanket for standard, everyday use but if you are a regular streamer, or download apps away from app stores, then it really is a must.

If you tend to connect to public networks more than you do your home one, added security and antivirus software to your phone is also a good idea. When you cannot guarantee anymore the connection is reliable, it is best to err on the side of caution and install extra security.

Hackers and malware are becoming more and more sophisticated, and while we all may think we're savvy if you get caught out it really can cause a lot of damage to both your device and the vast number of accounts connected to it. Protect your device, and yourself, with additional security on your smartphone.