SECURITY AND PRIVACY AT THE OLYMPICS
By Lookout, Inc.
Heading to Russia for the Olympics?
Keep in mind that taking your phone in
public puts your privacy at risk.
So you’re saying I should
go live under a rock?
NO
You can enjoy the games without putting
your personal information at risk with
a little common sense, caution and these tips.
Stay native
Russia is a "hot zone" for mobile threats, where users had a 75%
likelihood of encountering a mobile threat in 2013. This is largely
thanks to unregulated 3rd party app stores and the availability of low
risk monetization paths like premium rate SMS fraud. But traveling to
the Olympics doesn't necessarily put your phone in jeopardy.
Tip: Make sure your device settings reflect
your native or regular IP address. The Google
Play Store should be available to your device
as normal in Russia, so keep using the store as
it will be subject to Google's usual scrutiny.
Don’t download on the fly
Every Olympics season since the dawn of mobile malware,
we've seen scammy apps that try to lure in the unsuspecting.
Knowing that the risk of encountering malware via any 3rd
party stores or side-load downloaded apps is 20 times higher
in Russia than back in the US, you should exercise caution
before downloading any "Olympic" app that comes your way.
Tip: Use trusted app stores and Google Play when
downloading apps. Review all apps you download and
consult the official "Olympic app list" before clicking.
Make sure the Android system setting 'Unknown
sources' is unchecked to prevent dropped or drive-by-
download app installs.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi
Your phone’s 3G or 4G data connection is probably more
secure than the Wi-Fi networks that thousands of people
are using. Stick to a secure connection, especially if you’ll
be logging into accounts, making purchases or entering
any private information about yourself.
Tip: Turn off Wi-Fi connectivity in your
phone’s settings unless you’re confident in
network security.
Watch your mobile wallet
You'll find Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile
payment stations around the Russian Olympics for your
consumer convenience, but be cautious.
$
Tip: Turn on NFC signals only when necessary and
download Lookout Mobile Security to protect your
mobile privacy and security, so your phone or credit
card information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Keep your eyes on your phone
From installing malware to taking the device itself, you
never know what might happen to your phone when
you’re not watching it closely.
Tip: Don’t leave your device unattended.
Watch out for phishing
Phishing scams use email, text messages, Facebook, and
Twitter to send you links to websites that are designed to trick
you into providing information like passwords or account
numbers. These messages and sites are often very difficult to
distinguish from those of your bank or other legitimate sources.
Tip: Do not click on links or open
attachments in email messages unless you
can verify who sent them and what they sent.
You’re using your mobile phone for so much this
Olympics — including maps to get around, as a credit card
via NFC, news feed and social communications. It would
be a big problem if your phone is lost or stolen.
Be able to find your smartphone if it’s lost or stolen.
Tip: Install the Lookout app as a layer of
insurance for phone loss. You’ll be able to
locate your lost phone and even lock and wipe
it if you want to protect your sensitive data.
For more mobile security tips, follow
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