Many people don’t think twice about downloading phone applications, whether to play a game, deposit checks or keep in touch with friends and family. But before you install another app, read these downloading safety tips.
- Your contacts and call logs
- Calendar appointments
- GPS location
- Your phone’s unique ID
- Internet data
- Don’t download just any app. Ensure you’re downloading phone applications from reputable, trusted sources. Your best bet is your smartphone’s official app store.
- Watch out for fake apps. Copycat apps are disguised to look like the real thing. You can tell them apart by checking developer names and reviews.
- Review the app permissions. Verify that phone applications won’t access unnecessary information. For example, it makes sense that a social networking app would want access to your phone contacts, but a game app shouldn’t need access to your text messages.
- Beware of “free” apps. Free apps or games are sometimes supported by advertisements, which could collect your personal information and sell it to third parties.
More App Safety Tips
- Close or log out of phone applications when you aren’t using them. This will prevent apps from accessing your information.
- Don’t share passwords with your children so they can’t accidentally download malicious programs.
- Make sure your phone has a remote lock or wipe function in case it is lost or stolen. Thieves are less likely to steal personal information from a locked phone.