What is the “cost” of free apps؟
Offering something for free is definitely one of the
most effective models to attract customers. You don’t get much for free these days, so it is a pleasant
surprise when something is labeled free.
Let’s talk about the situation when that surprise becomes bitter.
Free does not mean safe. When we use our phones, we are spending a
lot of time on apps and they are becoming more and more valuable to us. Popular apps can be fun and can help in various spheres of our
lives, but they can give hackers access to our data. Mobile phones are expensive
and contain massive amounts of personal information. Smartphone apps, especially those that are offered free of
charge, pose a greater risk to our smartphones because as far as security
threats are concerned, smartphones are more subtle to malware and malicious
software than our desktops.
Malicious apps are not equally harmful. Some can track your location by monitoring GPS data and send this information to the third party while some can get the whole
control of your device so that criminals
can use your personal information in various ways for their personal
benefits. Downloading an infected app could even turn your device into a bot. Your
device can be placed under the control of some groups that can use it as a part
of the larger attacks.
Malicious apps can collect information stored in the mobile device,
so it can be used for malicious purposes; subscribe your
phone to premium services without your consent, so you get unnecessary costs
for unwanted services; it can download other malicious files
and apps, so your device is vulnerable to more infection;
gain complete control of the device and its functions, so your phone is exposed
to more threats.
Although you can not
identify which application represents
the security risk for your phone, you need to be very careful about the security of your data. If you decide to download the app,
especially free, here are some precautions
for your smartphone:
- Properly configure your smartphone
security settings and location and use a password and the numeric PIN lock
features of your smartphone.
It is more likely that apps outside the market will be infected with malicious programming. Not all the apps are guaranteed as secure but downloading it from official app stores is a security-wise option. Official app stores invest their resources into security measures and provide consumers with added layers of security.
- When downloading from
within an app store, be aware that the store offers not only first-party apps, made by the vendor of your phone but also third-party apps made by someone other than the phone manufacturers. Download third-party apps mean that the maker of the app has access to your phone through the phone
developer. So, take the time to get to know your source.
The characteristics of a safe app-store are terms of service
that are well developed, clear contact information and a
troubleshooting FAQ and history of removing
vendors with poor content.
- It’s obvious that apps need to interact with the phone but if the app asks for access
to a long list of information
stored in your device that can be
a signal that it is a malicious app. An app might ask for full network access, run at startup,
location, take pictures and videos, read text messages but some apps ask for access to messages,
phone call logs, and other personal information. Be careful in accepting requests for personal or device data. Before agreeing to permission
ask yourself if the app really needs such access
to your device. The fewer permissions
an app requests, the more likely that it is safe.
- Avoid web browsing on your smartphone. Today’s smartphones are like mini-PCs and they are exposed
to the same threats. When browsing the web, you may run into malicious and phishing links and you
may access a webpage
that triggers the automatic download of a malware-infected app. Before downloading purchasing and installing
an application you should install a mobile security app because it provides a certain degree
of security.
- Another downside of the
free apps is
that they usually are ad-supported which means that
your device works more than apps without ads. It can shorten your battery
life for one half. Think of that
when you have to make an
emergency call. Ad-supported apps diminish
your phone performance. It places
more demands on your phone’s processor and increases processing time, memory usage and
CPU utilization. Then, you
can expect increased data usage. Apps with ads use a lot more data then the free ones which
are a major problem if you pay for data or have data a limit.
Your bill can become an
unpleasant surprise.
The phones became our helpers and even our companions. We do not appreciate them just how much they cost but how much they have become a big part of our everyday lives. Malicious people are aware of this, and they know that they can realize a personal gain, so our phones have taken part in their target pool. If you are offered something for free, consider how much will it cost. If you want to download a free app, ask yourself what is its real price. Installing a free app can cost you, not only your money but also your nerves. Do not learn this in a hard way.
