Many Still Neglect Protecting Smart Devices

By Nur Adila Abdul Wahab BUKIT MERTAJAM (Penang, Malaysia), Dec 14 (Bernama) -- What is the first app you would download once you have laid your hands on a new smart gadget? More often than not, it would be popular social media apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. Many of us have become so addicted to having an online presence and so dependent on smart gadgets that we have made ourselves vulnerable to the risk of becoming victims of cybercrimes. IGNORANCE OVER SIMPLE SAFETY MEASURES There are dozens of free apps that can be downloaded to protect mobile devices from being stolen or hacked. However, not many would think to download apps that secure their smart devices before downloading other potentially harmful apps onto it. In relating his experience with cyber crimes, IT expert and director of Onemyr Awareness Management Mohd Ridzman said that many smart device users were not even aware of the existence of such apps. “There are so many free apps to prevent our mobile phones from getting lost. It’s so simple, yet so many of us are unaware of this. “For example, we would usually lodge a police report if we lose our mobile phones. However, it might take a long time, if ever, before you can recover your phone. The thieves could have stolen all your data and used it for a sinister purpose within that time. ”However, if you had downloaded apps that protect your phone’s data, you would have been able to delete all sensitive data even if you were as far as London. With just an app you could have protected your personal data and dignity,” he told Bernama at a talk on online safety at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Guar Perahu Indah, a secondary school, here. ANYONE CAN FALL VICTIM Mohd Ridzman said the lack of knowledge in protecting their smart gadgets made many susceptible to falling victim to cyber crimes. The assumption that their smartphones and all the data on it were theirs exclusively and could be used in whatever manner they wished have led to many careless acts. Some might realise too late that with just one image, one’s entire life could change. He said those who loved taking photos and sharing them on social media and those who send their boyfriends' and husbands' photos of a sensitive nature, put themselves at risk of online crimes. If the smart gadgets were to be misplaced or ended up in the wrong hands, they could suffer serious repercussions as smart phones are easily hacked into due to its constant state of access to the internet. “Many users, particularly teenage girls, are unaware of the consequences in the long term if they keep sharing photographs of a personal nature. “They are cases of teenage girls blackmailed by their boyfriends due to their own mistake of sending explicit photos to the latter. With just one photo, their reputation would be marred. So be careful with sharing or downloading photos on social media,” he said. FOCUSING ON HACKING ACTIVITIES Mohd Ridzman said his company had been focusing on the topic of hacking since introducing awareness programmes on cybercrimes in February, as well as teaching students methods of protecting themselves from hacking activities. "When talking about cybercrimes, many would think of online slander or scam. However, we focus on hacking, which has become like a business these days. “Students get shocked when I show them how easily a smartphone can be hacked. "They want to know more. The programme teaches them the negative consequences of getting involved in cybercrimes, not ways of protecting themselves from the repercussions of irresponsible social media activities. This is to prevent them from misusing such information,” he said. The free five-hour programme has been conducted in 18 schools and tertiary education institutions. Eighty percent of the programme is practical application. His company also managed to collect nearly 5,000 survey responses on cybercrimes during the programme. Mohd Ridzman advised parents to always keep an eye out on their children’s social media activities as many of today’s students have their own mobile phones. -- BERNAMA