With Optus hacking attack sparking new data security concerns across the country, Android users have again been urged to perform security checks on their devices given the OS’s continued sensitivity popular to hackers and malware.
For example, there’s Android malware like Ads Blocker, which, as CNET points out, promises to prevent pop-ups, but just delivers more ads than the app developers are paid to flood your screen.
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Then there are the more serious Man In The Middle (MITM) attacks, in which a hacker can set up a fraudulent Wi-Fi network disguised as a harmless public network like those usually made available to customers in a coffee shop. or a mall.
However, once the Android user joins, the hacker then has full access to the device and can either log keystrokes or install more Android malware.
So why are Android users more at risk? It boils down to the fact that the operating system is Linux-based and partially open-source, which means that it can be modified by anyone.
In contrast, Apple’s iOS system is closed source. This same point of difference is what currently makes Android the most popular system in the world with 2.5 billion active users on devices made by a number of different companies, such as Samsung, Oppo and Motorola. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS is completely confined to Apple devices.
But there is an easy diagnostic check Android users can run on their device to highlight the hack risk they are in.
Simply head to your device’s settings section and click on the Security tab.
At the top of the page, a small table shows the security status of the device, with the following classifications:
- No issues found: No security issues are present on your device or Google Account (usually with a checkmark in a green circle)
- Security can be improved: You have safety recommendations (usually with a tick in a green circle)
- Security can be threatened: Please review the security recommendations and take steps to secure your account or device (this classification will be highlighted by an exclamation mark in an orange circle)
- Security is threatened: There are critical security issues that require your attention, please review the security recommendations and take action to secure your account or device (this classification will also have an exclamation mark but in a red circle for a red alert)
The first two classifications with a green circle indicate that the security of the device is good and no vulnerabilities were found.
But if the classifications aren’t given the literal green light, Google will give you recommendations to help you beef up your security.
This can be either resetting a weak password or a quick review of the logins on the device, to verify that all were intentionally made by the user.
Regarding the last measure, Google recommends taking immediate action if logins to your account seem unusual.
Unsurprisingly, Google also approves installing the latest update on software systems, as they may have new security upgrades.