Your smartphone has quickly become your best friend, taking the place of your laptop for web browsing, your calendar for keeping track of appointments, your iPod for listening to music, your camera for taking pictures, and traditional ways of communication in exchange for texting and emailing on the go. You download so much personal information onto your phone that losing it or having it damaged in any way seems like the worst possible thing that could happen. Well, it does happen, and here are the top five ways that you can destroy your new BFF:
Downloading Apps – No, we're not joking. From social media apps to apps for news, games, weather, shopping, finance and so on, every app that you download has the potential to harm your smartphone. The apps that you download, including those from reputable sources such as Google Play and iTunes, come with a long list of permissions that we all should read but don't. You would be amazed at what you allow these apps to access when you electronically accept their terms and conditions.
Mobile security software, such as McAfee Mobile Security, will actually scan every app you download before it becomes a fixture on your phone. After the scan, a report is created with information regarding permissions. Many apps, for example, require access to your contact list, text messages and other personal information. Some can even use your phone's camera to take pictures of your daily activities, make phone calls without your consent or use the phone's microphone to listen in on your conversations, as well as turn your GPS into a serious threat by tracking your location.
Overcharging the Battery – One of the most common complaints made about smartphones has to do with their battery life. Usage, of course, affects how long the battery will last, but did you know that your charging habits may be the primary reason your phone's battery dies after one long conversation? Before plugging in your phone to charge, make sure that the battery is completely dead. Yes, completely. This may be inconvenient at the time, but it will pay off in the end. When charging your phone, try not to do it overnight. Your smartphone's battery doesn't need eight or more hours to fully charge, and leaving the phone plugged in can actually drain future battery life as well.
Heat Exposure – Do you think you could perform at optimal level after being left in a hot car with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning for hours on end? The answer, of course, is no. The same applies to your phone. Humans don't like heat, and neither do electronics. Even leaving your phone in direct sunlight in an air-conditioned building can lead to it going on the fritz.
Browsing the Web – The webosphere is so vast that the word "vast" doesn't even begin to describe it. Due to the millions or billions of websites docked in this webosphere, it is quite simple to accidentally access dangerous ones. As you navigate from site to site, you can easily pick up a virus, malware or other malicious code that can latch on and slither its way into your smartphone's data center and even your SIM card. To protect your phone from these unknown but dreadfully damaging agents, we suggest that you purchase and download mobile security software, such as BullGuard Mobile or Lookout Premium. These applications protect your phone and your personal information from any threats you may encounter when browsing the web.
Water Damage – "Well, obviously," you may be thinking. Yes, yes, you know that dropping your phone into the tub or, more commonly, the toilet (gross, right?) can destroy it. Did you know that even the smallest bit of moisture can also damage your phone? The condensation from a window seal where your phone is resting, the dampness of a freshly laundered pair of pants where your phone sits, and even the cup holder in your car where your 42 oz. Coke just sat and where your phone now currently resides, for example, can harm your phone.
Your smartphone is capable of many things. An astonishing number of things, really. However, like everything, it has its limits. Your phone can pick up viruses, malware, spam, spyware and other malicious code within seconds of downloading an app or entering an unknown site. To keep your mobile device protected, we suggest investing in mobile security software that has the features and functions you need to keep your phone and the information on it safe.
Downloading Apps – No, we're not joking. From social media apps to apps for news, games, weather, shopping, finance and so on, every app that you download has the potential to harm your smartphone. The apps that you download, including those from reputable sources such as Google Play and iTunes, come with a long list of permissions that we all should read but don't. You would be amazed at what you allow these apps to access when you electronically accept their terms and conditions.
Mobile security software, such as McAfee Mobile Security, will actually scan every app you download before it becomes a fixture on your phone. After the scan, a report is created with information regarding permissions. Many apps, for example, require access to your contact list, text messages and other personal information. Some can even use your phone's camera to take pictures of your daily activities, make phone calls without your consent or use the phone's microphone to listen in on your conversations, as well as turn your GPS into a serious threat by tracking your location.
Overcharging the Battery – One of the most common complaints made about smartphones has to do with their battery life. Usage, of course, affects how long the battery will last, but did you know that your charging habits may be the primary reason your phone's battery dies after one long conversation? Before plugging in your phone to charge, make sure that the battery is completely dead. Yes, completely. This may be inconvenient at the time, but it will pay off in the end. When charging your phone, try not to do it overnight. Your smartphone's battery doesn't need eight or more hours to fully charge, and leaving the phone plugged in can actually drain future battery life as well.
Heat Exposure – Do you think you could perform at optimal level after being left in a hot car with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning for hours on end? The answer, of course, is no. The same applies to your phone. Humans don't like heat, and neither do electronics. Even leaving your phone in direct sunlight in an air-conditioned building can lead to it going on the fritz.
Browsing the Web – The webosphere is so vast that the word "vast" doesn't even begin to describe it. Due to the millions or billions of websites docked in this webosphere, it is quite simple to accidentally access dangerous ones. As you navigate from site to site, you can easily pick up a virus, malware or other malicious code that can latch on and slither its way into your smartphone's data center and even your SIM card. To protect your phone from these unknown but dreadfully damaging agents, we suggest that you purchase and download mobile security software, such as BullGuard Mobile or Lookout Premium. These applications protect your phone and your personal information from any threats you may encounter when browsing the web.
Water Damage – "Well, obviously," you may be thinking. Yes, yes, you know that dropping your phone into the tub or, more commonly, the toilet (gross, right?) can destroy it. Did you know that even the smallest bit of moisture can also damage your phone? The condensation from a window seal where your phone is resting, the dampness of a freshly laundered pair of pants where your phone sits, and even the cup holder in your car where your 42 oz. Coke just sat and where your phone now currently resides, for example, can harm your phone.
Your smartphone is capable of many things. An astonishing number of things, really. However, like everything, it has its limits. Your phone can pick up viruses, malware, spam, spyware and other malicious code within seconds of downloading an app or entering an unknown site. To keep your mobile device protected, we suggest investing in mobile security software that has the features and functions you need to keep your phone and the information on it safe.
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