Safety First: How to Protect Your Smartphone from Viruses

29 July 2016 

We live in an age when a phone no longer serves merely as a means of making calls—it functions much like a small computer, facilitating money transfers, important work correspondence, the storage of memories in photo galleries, and other everyday activities. Unfortunately, as smartphones have become more functional, the number of viruses targeting them has also increased. To avoid them, it is worth remembering a few simple recommendations from Samsung product specialist Jānis Lejnieks.

Watch what you agree to

“It is advisable to download applications only from trusted and official platforms, such as Google Play or Galaxy Apps. It is also worth reading other users’ reviews of a particular application—the more positive reviews there are, the more likely it is that everything is in order with the application,” says J. Lejnieks. He points out that, before routinely accepting the terms of use, it is important to pay attention to the data the application wants to access. Consider whether you really want to share your call history, social media accounts, or camera.

Antivirus software—for your phone too

Just as on a computer, you should install licensed antivirus software on your phone—it will check all incoming data. “The Smart Manager function is valuable: it monitors the phone every day to check for viruses and other security threats. In addition, it also monitors the device’s battery and memory settings,” says J. Lejnieks. He also recommends the Samsung Knox security platform, which will help protect the information stored on your phone from malicious attacks.

Keep your settings up to date

Software and operating system updates are among the prerequisites for ensuring maximum data security. It is advisable to update the settings whenever the device or software developer offers an update—this will also help protect you against entirely new types of viruses.

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use

If you leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on continuously, your phone will automatically offer to connect to any wireless internet network. Without you noticing, this can increase the possibility of a virus entering the device. “To improve security, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks when you are not using them. In addition, most devices allow you to specify that the phone should automatically connect only to known networks and devices,” explains the Samsung expert.

Leave nothing to chance

Treat your smartphone responsibly—it is advisable not to leave it unattended in the presence of children, as they may accidentally infect the phone, without intending any harm, by opening various links or applications. You should also set a security code, pattern, or fingerprint to prevent third parties from accessing the device.

If you suspect that your phone has been infected—for example, if it has become significantly slower, applications no longer work as usual, or it cannot be unlocked—it is advisable to seek advice at the nearest customer service centre of the phone manufacturer.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics’ innovative ideas are changing perceptions of technologies for televisions, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital household appliances, printers, medical equipment, and network systems, inspiring people and shaping the future. The company is also setting trends in the Internet of Things, or device ecosystems, particularly in the Digital Health and Smart Home segments. For more information, visit Samsung’s official website at www.samsung.com and the blog at global.samsungtomorrow.com.

Since its establishment in 1999, Samsung Electronics Baltics has become one of the leading consumer electronics companies in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The Baltic representative office employs 150 people, and in 2015 sales in the Baltic states reached 291 million euros.