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4/3/13

Internet - security: Smartphones increasing global cyber crime

The flaw in the smartphone is that it is too useful and too user friendly – for users who trade convenience for security.

They collect our emails, store our bank details, we tweet and use Facebook on them. They are our bank vault, our confidante, and our guide.

Criminals use Wi-Fi connection to harvest passwords and other sensitive data from smartphones or computers – often giving their Wi-Fi hotspots fake names familiar to punters at cafes and in airports.

Many smartphones are set up to automatically leap on to available Wi-Fi hotspots and start downloading emails.

Forty per cent of mobiles sold this year have been smartphones – and this has been a bumper year for malware developers who have focussed their attention on smartphones.

Those running Google’s Android system have been especially targeted.

Note EU-Digest: the first step to take is to get an anti-virus program for your smartphone to reduce the risk of being "zapped". There are even some reputable free ones available on the market. 

Travelers should be particularly wary of cyber threats on vacation as they access free wireless networks with their smartphones, tablets or laptops, says software security company Symantec Corp.

Read more: Smartphones increasing global cyber crime - Hindustan Times

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