The way that we carry out our banking operations has changed dramatically over the years. With the increase in Internet use a decade ago, it helped to remove the need to go to our banks or ATMs to manage transactions or to move money around. In the past couple of years the landscape has changed even further, with the advent of smartphones meaning we can also look after our finances on the go.

Thus, if you have a smartphone then it is likely that you will also have downloaded the official app of your bank. Most banks have invested greatly in ensuring the security of these apps, as any potential problems could be devastating for the reputation of the bank. These apps often have limits set on the amount of money they can transfer to minimize the risks and some demand a code from a token or card reader to authorize any transaction.

However, as with all apps, it pays to be safe and take precautions when using your banking application, just as you would with your credit cards, especially with Christmas just around the corner – a time when we are usually busy transferring money and checking our statements more than usual.

To help you stay safe, here are a few easy tips to help you bank safely from the comfort of your smartphone.

1. Only use official apps

This may seem slightly silly, but you need to make sure that you’ve downloaded the official app from your bank.

2. Keep the app updated

This piece of advice goes for all applications that you install, but with banking apps it is even more important. With each update, the developer may have included increased security defenses, which if you haven’t updated to, could leave you exposed.

3. Select the SMS authorization option

Search for this option in the app, which means your bank will send you an SMS every time money has been lodged or removed from the account. This will allow you to spot any discrepancies before it’s too late.

4. Log out when not in use

When you have finished using the app, it is very important that you log out of the app. This will help protect you in the event of your phone ending up the hands of the wrong person.

5. Use a phone tracker

Getting a phone tracking app is an efficient way of remotely deleting information from your device in case you lose it or it is stolen.

6. Install a trusted antivirus

A good antivirus will protect you from any suspicious activity or malicious apps. Panda offers solutions for both Android and iOS users in the form of Panda Mobile Security for Android and Panda Antivirus for Mac, which also scans iPhones for malware.

Finally, if you suspect that you have been the target of banking fraud, contact your bank immediately.

The post 6 simple steps for safely using mobile bank applications appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

The undisputed leader in the western world for instant messaging, with over 900 million active users, WhatsApp is synonymous with smartphones and messaging. Despite this, there are constantly new controversies relating to the security of the application and this has led to many doubting the integrity of the service.

From fraud to malicious programs that take advantage of its popularity, to apps that spy on users and other vulnerabilities, there is seemingly no end to the problems which have been raised in a study carried out by investigators at the Cyber Forensic Research & Education Group at the University of New Haven in the United States.

Thanks to developing their own forensic tool, the investigators have managed to decode part of the communication that is established between the servers of WhatsApp and those of the user when there is communication of any sort carried out via the app.

They have discovered that, amongst other things, the popular instant messaging service collects and stores sensitive information about the user and the conversations that they have. None of this appears to be essential to the functioning of the messaging service, so you have to ask why the company does it, and why they haven’t publicly stated this before.

The company keeps a record of all calls that we make, who receives them, and their duration. What’s more, the people behind the study believe that encryption keys could also be somehow sent during these communications. Although they haven’t proven it yet, it could be just the tip of the iceberg for new security flaws in the chat service.

The group of experts from the University of New Haven have urged other investigators to use the tool that they have developed in the hope that more security breaches will be unearthed, as there are also fears over similar practices with other messaging services such as Facebook Messenger and Telegram.

Recently we have seen that WhatsApp has taken measures to try and improve the level of security that it offers to its users in order to guarantee their privacy. These steps include the introduction of the famous and controversial double check, specific updates, and a stronger encryption system.

However, to keep the system user-friendly, some recommended security measures aren’t compatible as it would compromise the user experience too much. This difficult balance is what WhatsApp finds itself fighting against as it fights to stake its claim as the largest, and most secure, instant messaging service on the market.

The post WhatsApp calls: Questions over privacy as WhatsApp keeps register of activity appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

Thanks to the advent of smartphones, we no longer have to worry about going over our message limit, or sending the same message to different people. Nowadays there is a large selection of different messaging apps to choose from, which allow you to send as many messages to as many people as you like, including group messages, all for free. Not only that, but you can freely send videos, pictures, and even share your location with others for no cost.

Depending on where you live, the most popular messaging app could be WhatsApp or Kik, Telegram or Voxer. Another extremely popular app is Viber, which has over 100 million active monthly users from a total of 280 million registered users. The messaging tool, which was launched in 2010, is available for both iOS and Android and allows you to have both video and audio chats.

Of course, as with all messaging apps, you need to make sure that what you share is safe and secure, so we’ve put together a few simple steps to ensure your data can’t be accessed.

6 steps to make your Viber more secure

1. Change your online status

This may seem like a rather simple step, but there’s no need for your contacts to know every time you open the app to read an old message. In order to hide your online status in Viber, go to the settings section, select “Privacy” and untick “Share ‘Online’ Status”.

2. Make Viber profile photo hidden from unknown users

Having a profile photo on Viber helps your contacts recognize you quickly and easily, but you can just as easily keep it hidden from unknown users. All you need to do is open “Privacy”, choose “Profile photo” and select “Nobody”.

3. Change the seen option for contacts

If you don’t want your contacts to know when you have seen or read their messages, you can change the option by going to the settings, then “Privacy”, and take the tick off the “Share ‘Using App’ status” line.

4. Use a password to block Viber

If you are unfortunate enough for your smartphone to land itself in the hands of another person, you can ensure they aren’t able to read your private messages by using a password to block access. The app itself doesn’t come with any locking device, but you can easily download a password app that you can use with Viber for free.

5. Don’t save Viber photos in your gallery

All photos that are sent or received via the app are stored automatically in a new folder in your phone’s gallery. So even if you’ve blocked the app, someone can still access your photos. Simply delete the photos immediately (you can still view them within the app) or follow these quick and easy steps:

• Download a file manager app i.e ASTRO, ES File Manager or Cabinet Beta
• Navigate to “vibermediaViber Images” directory in your phone.
• Create a new file “.nomedia” (without quotes) and save it.

6. Hide Using App status

Any games or actions you carry out within the app is viewable by others, so to prevent them seeing what you are doing just go to the settings, then “Privacy”, and take the tick off the “Share ‘Using App’ status” line. Easy as that.

So, now that you have completed these simple steps, you can ensure that whatever you send to your family and friends can remain confidential, and so is all of your activity while using the messaging tool.

The post 6 steps to make your Viber more secure appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

Virtual voice assistants such as Siri and Google Now detect key words when you ask them questions so as to understand and be able to offer you the service that you require. They also have access to the majority of tools built into your phone. For example, Siri is able to search your contact list and tell you where each of your friends is at any given moment. Both Siri and Google Now allow for calls or messages to be sent with a simple and direct command.

But what might happen if it’s not only you that could give the command, and if someone else were able to send orders remotely without even uttering a word?

A group of investigators from the National Agency for Computer Security in France (ANSSI) have discovered that these voice assistants could be tapped into by outside sources. They’re unearthed a method in which it is possible to send them commands from a distance of up to 10 meters.

To complete these tests, the team of investigators used radios waves to communicate with these voice tools without making any sounds. The only things needed are headphones with an in-built microphone.

For short distances (around two meters), the tools needed are even simpler – the group used an open-key program called GNU radio, a USRP radio, an antenna, and a signal amplifier.

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