According to research, about 40% of Brazilian consumers do not read the license agreement of applications that install on their smartphones, allowing access to sensitive data and even administrative settings of the operating system.
With the Sarahah app fever in Brazil, which allows users to send anonymous messages to registered users, it is important to read the license agreement before installing a new app on your device. A significant portion of Brazilian smartphone users install apps on their devices without understanding what the possible consequences of this act are, according to Kaspersky research.
The study also reveals that almost 40% of Brazilian consumers do not care about the application license agreement when installing it on their mobile, and almost 15% do not read the installation messages of these programs. That is, users click "go ahead" and "accept" without knowing the commitment they are making - it's like signing a contract without reading its clauses. When users do not read license agreements or messages during the installation process, they are unaware of the agreement they are accepting.
Some apps may even affect user privacy, initiate the installation of other programs, or even change the operating system configuration of a smartphone legally, as the user has unknowingly authorized these accesses during the installation process.
“It's very common for users to download applications without looking at whether they are allowing developers to access more information than they should. When installing an application on your device, it is important to understand what information has been requested, if it is really needed for the application, and what can be done with that information, ”explains Thiago Marques, security analyst at Kaspersky Lab.
Some tips can enhance the protection of your phone:
Download from trusted sources
Mobile devices are also used for distraction, in which we download harmless games to pass the time. It's important to only download apps from trusted sources or official stores, such as Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Always check app privacy
It is important to carefully read the conditions and information when using game and test apps. Because you can share information from your friends when you agree to sync your friends list, apps can also share your information. Be sure to change your settings to control which categories of information people can access.
Check whitelist the app requests
Do not click "advance" during installation without checking what you are accepting. Some apps may be used as a hook to gain permission to access sensitive information from users and others - such as contacts, private messages, location, etc., for business purposes.
Have a strong and unique password.
Never create an easy password to guess, such as birthdays, place of birth, country name, etc. Data like this is easy to find on the internet, like Facebook. For a strong password, combine letters, numbers and symbols. To manage your passwords, use a password administrator.
Source: securityinformationnews.com
