Beginning in 2020, Google began to provide alerts about potential Google Account security issues to users regardless of which Google app (Gmail, YouTube, Drive, etc.) they were using. Look for a small icon, with an exclamation mark next to your profile image, in the upper right corner of most apps. Tapping/clicking through will display the […]

Be savvy with your apps. Before downloading an app, make sure you understand what information the app will access. Read the permissions the app is requesting and determine whether the data it is asking to access is related to the purpose of the app. Read the app’s privacy policy to see if, or how, your […]

Some apps can drain your battery quickly by running constantly in the background, while others might surreptitiously gather information. From the Settings menu, tap the “General” tab, then select “Apps & notifications.” Press the “App permissions” button and update the settings as needed.

Reduce the risk of downloading potentially harmful apps by limiting your download sources to official app stores, such as your device’s manufacturer or operating system app store. Do not download from unknown sources or install untrusted enterprise certificates. Additionally—because malicious apps have been known to slip through the security of even reputable app stores—always read […]

Given that it’s possible to use SIM swap scams to get around traditional two-factor authentication, which typically relies on one-time passcodes sent over SMS, downloading an authenticator app can provide some additional security for select accounts. Google and Microsoft have apps that are widely used.

Before downloading an app, conduct research to ensure the app is legitimate. Checking the legitimacy of an app may include such thing as: checking reviews, confirming the legitimacy of the app store, and comparing the app sponsor’s official website with the app store link to confirm consistency. Many apps from untrusted sources contain malware that […]