3 steps to make your (or a family member's) phone safer
When it comes to tech questions, I’ve gotten them all. More than ever, I’m hearing from people inundated with requests from older family members to fix their devices.
Maybe they clicked a bad link, and their computer is acting up. Tap or click for eight signs it’s infected with malware or other malicious software.
The problem may be more mundane, like text too small to read. A few taps in the settings menu will make their life much easier. Tap or click here to make text more prominent on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Keep reading for ways to do a phone privacy and security tune-up.
1. Turn on emergency and health settings
A smartphone can save your life if it’s set up correctly.
In the case of a health event, emergency responders can access the iPhone Health app — even if the phone is locked. Add details like your — or your loved one’s — name, age, medical conditions, allergies and emergency contacts to give first responders more information.
How to set up emergency settings on an iPhone
When first opening the Health app on an iPhone, you’re prompted to enter basic health information. You can always go back to update Health Details.
After you fill out the Health Details section, it’s time to set up the Medical ID.
- Open the iPhone Health app, then tap the profile picture.
- Select Medical ID > Get Started or Edit. Enter any health information.
- Tap Emergency Contacts and add a trusted person’s information.
- Tap Done.
One more step: Allow emergency services to access the Medical ID even when the phone’s screen is locked. Here’s what to do:
Delete these malicious Android apps immediately
We’ve warned you about Chinese apps you need to remove from your phone, and now we need to look to another part of the world.
Over 60 Korea-based apps were removed from Google Play and the ONE store (Korea’s biggest app store). The apps were downloaded more than 100 million times. Here’s what you need to know
Malicious apps found in popular Android app store - What to avoid
If you own an Android, any number of apps can be risky — especially if you download them through unofficial sources. Some pose a danger to your data, and could quietly install malware on your phone.
Even the official Google Play Store doesn’t catch everything. Tap or click here for details on Android apps caught stealing users’ banking information.
This messaging app with 500K+ downloads is hiding malware that steals your money
Malware has evolved over the years to make detection incredibly difficult. Part of the problem is that many malicious apps behave like legitimate ones – stealing your data while hiding in plain sight.
When these apps are detected by security researchers or mobile phone developers, they’re typically removed quickly from the respective stores. Tap or click here to see if your phone could be harboring some of these apps.
Check your PC or Mac for a dangerous program that records your keystrokes
Criminals looking to rip you off never stop coming up with clever new ways to do it. Sometimes, their schemes run behind the scenes on your device and you may never know what’s going on.
One example comes in the form of malicious apps that are designed to run adware. Another sneaky way thieves can rip you off is through a keylogger, a program secretly installed on your device to record keystrokes.
Google just banned 8 dangerous apps - Check your phone right now!
The pandemic has caused financial hardships across the globe, and people are seeking to supplement their income. People on the fence about investing are treading into the stock market for the first time, while others are following the cryptocurrency hype caused by social media and public figures.
Just plugging in this mouse can give a stranger complete access to your PC
It seems that a security flaw or software vulnerability is discovered almost daily. Hackers could exploit them, so it’s important to update your system as soon as a patch is released. Tap or click here to stamp out 50 Windows vulnerabilities.
Check your phone! These 3 iPhone VPN apps are a scam
Not all malicious software plants malware or spyware on your phone. Instead, some masquerade as legitimate programs upon first glance — only to strike at you later with ridiculous fees and charges you weren’t expecting.
Check Google Chrome! 500+ extensions spreading dangerous malware
It’s no exaggeration to say Google has a malware problem. And we’re not talking about the malware users run into when exploring the web. We’re talking about overlooked malware that floats around on platforms Google actually owns.