By Anna Collard
Your mobile device is at risk of infection, putting your personal information and privacy at risk of fraud
WED 18 AUG, 2021-theGBJournal- Imagine if your mobile phone could be used to spy on you, listen to your conversations and send information and images from your device to a third party? This is not an imagined, dystopian future, it is the story of the Pegasus spyware put on mobile devices by clients of Israeli spyware software firm NSO. Although the Pegasus spyware is meant to be used by law enforcement only and is targeted at high-value individuals, this story provides some food for thought as, according to Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA (KnowBe4.com), mobile malware and spyware are not only aimed at the wealthy and the important – they can have a serious impact on anyone’s life.
“Other mobile threats such as banking malware for example use a similar process to the Pegasus spyware to get to users’ devices. “For example, many of these types of malware get installed by people clicking on a link that they received via SMS or WhatsApp and end up downloading a malicious app that could result in advertising click fraud, mobile ransomware, banking trojans or in some cases, even roots or jail breaks their phone to obtain full remote control over the device. The malware then allows for the criminals to listen to calls, take screenshots and see what the user types – catching passwords and banking details.”
Imagine if your mobile phone could be used to spy on you, listen to your conversations and send information and images from your device to a third party? This is not an imagined, dystopian future, it is the story of the Pegasus spyware put on mobile devices by clients of Israeli spyware software firm NSO. Although the Pegasus spyware is meant to be used by law enforcement only and is targeted at high-value individuals, this story provides some food for thought as, according to Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA (KnowBe4.com), mobile malware and spyware are not only aimed at the wealthy and the important – they can have a serious impact on anyone’s life.
“Other mobile threats such as banking malware for example use a similar process to the Pegasus spyware to get to users’ devices. “For example, many of these types of malware get installed by people clicking on a link that they received via SMS or WhatsApp and end up downloading a malicious app that could result in advertising click fraud, mobile ransomware, banking trojans or in some cases, even roots or jail breaks their phone to obtain full remote control over the device. The malware then allows for the criminals to listen to calls, take screenshots and see what the user types – catching passwords and banking details.”
Keeping your mobile device free from infection means that you watch what you click, you do not trust unexpected links from unknown sources, do not share information with anyone – especially if they call and pretend they are from your mobile phone provider or bank – and do not provide people with your OTPs unless you have initiated the transaction with a trusted agent yourself. Mobile devices are as much at risk as computers, so stay aware, stay alert and stay secure.
Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA
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