MOBILE SECURITY AT THE WORLD CUP

HEADING TO THE WORLD CUP IN

BRAZIL?

CHANCES ARE YOU’LL END UP IN A

CROWD OR TWO

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THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

!

Protecting your phone and all of the data on it may be the

last thing on your mind, but taking a minute to think about

mobile security can save a lot of heartache later on.

ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE

COMMON SENSE, CAUTION AND THESE TIPS:

STAY NATIVE

When you go to a new country, you probably don’t know

much about the app ecosystem, which could expose you

to threats you’re not even aware of.

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 Brazil, so keep using

the store as it will be subject to Google's usual scrutiny. 

DON’T DOWNLOAD ON THE FLY

A quick “unofficial World Cup app” download may mean

downloading something scammy, especially if you don’t

have time to read through permissions.

TIP:

Use trusted markets like Google Play and the Apple app store when

downloading apps. Review all apps you download and consult the

official World Cup 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 may come across Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile

payment stations around the World Cup to avoid having to

worry about carrying cash, but be cautious. 

TIP:

Turn on NFC signals only when necessary so the personal

information stored in your phone doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

You can turn NFC on and off from your phone’s settings.

WATCH OUT FOR PHISHING

Does that email promising free tickets to the hottest games seem too good to

be true? It probably is. 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 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.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL…ER…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:

Never leave your device unattended. It only takes a

moment for something bad to happen.

SET A PASSCODE

****If somebody other than yourself does end up with your phone, a

password is the first line of defense for your personal data.

Read the blog

TIP:

To keep your information private, create a strong passcode

(read: not 1234 or 0000) for your phone and set your

screen to auto-lock within five minutes.

Read the blog

BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR SMARTPHONE  IF IT’S LOST OR STOLEN

You’re depending on your mobile phone for so much, including

maps to get around, a credit card via NFC, a news feed and

social communications. It may even hold your ticket back home.

It would be a big problem if your phone is 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