Security roundup: How to safely install apps, death of cash by 2030

This week, we find out how not installing mobile apps properly can expose you to cyber threats.

Why you need to know how to safely install apps
Kaspersky Lab’s “Are you cyber savvy?” Quiz, which questioned more than 18,000 consumers about their online habits, found that an alarming number of consumers are leaving their privacy – and the data on their phones – exposed to cyber-threats because they are not installing apps on their devices safely.

“Internet users are entrusting their devices with sensitive information about themselves and others, such as contacts, private messaging etc., yet they are failing to ensure their information is entirely safe. This can turn their devices into their ‘digital frenemies’,” commented David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab.

“Because they are not taking precautions when they install apps, many consumers are granting apps permission to intrude on their private lives, watch what is stored on their devices and where they are, install additional unwanted apps and make changes to their devices right from the moment of installation. At Kaspersky Lab, we want to help consumers become more cyber-savvy and protect their precious data – and themselves – from these dangers.”

To protect themselves consumers should:
– Only download apps from trusted sources
– Select the apps you wish to install on your device wisely
– Read the license agreement carefully during the installation process
– Read the list of permissions an app is requesting carefully. Do not simply click ‘next’ during installation, without checking what you are agreeing to
– Use a cybersecurity solution that will protect your device from cyber-threats

Mobile payments will be secure enough to replace cash by 2030
70 per cent of consumers think that by 2030 mobile payments will be secure enough to replace cash and credit cards as the way to pay, according to the IEEE’s Global Cybersecurity Survey.

The survey also found that despite the advances in cloud technology, more than a quarter respondents said that the cloud is their least preferred method for storing information.

“Now more than ever, cybersecurity is a necessary safeguard to our digital lives, which hosts a variety of our private and personal information,” stated Diogo Monica, IEEE member and security lead at Docker. “Cyberattacks can now unfortunately happen in nearly every element of our lives, such as our car, connected home and wearable devices. Whether it’s putting more reliance in digital systems for our currency or trusting that our email accounts are secure, we need to be cognisant and take the necessary precautions to protect our digital footprint.”

In other news:
– Symantec has announced it is helping Williams combat the latest threats and accelerate its security posture ahead of the 2016 Formula 1 season.
– Kaspersky has launched a new MSP program, available through Exertis VAD Solutions.