Over 12,000 smartphone cyberattacks in Qatar during COVID-19 quarantine

During this overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic, almost everyone that owns a smartphone is relying on digital connectivity. In recent times, the threats for smartphones are on the rise according to security experts in Qatar.

According to a report published by Kaspersky, the statistic of cyberattacks on smartphone users from January to June 2020 shows the number of malicious attacks on mobile users has reached 11,883.

As mobile platform's influence grows, the role of smartphones in business processes and day to day life is growing rapidly. In response, cybercriminals are paying more attention to how they are distributing malware and the attack vectors used, increasing their activity in times of crisis.

Throughout the year, the number of attacks was not changing dramatically, which means that the implementation of quarantine measures did not influence the mobile threat landscape in the region. It would account for approximately 2,000 – 2,500 attacks monthly.

Cybersecurity is important because it an encompasses everything that pertains to protecting our sensitive data, personally identifiable information, protected health information, personal information, intellectual property, data, and governmental and industry information systems from theft and damage attempted by criminals and adversaries

Since the threats against mobile users are growing, it is important to know how you can protect yourself from them. You need to know what steps you can take to safeguard your smartphone and your sensitive information when browsing online or downloading apps.

Here are some of the advice by Kaspersky to protect your devices from security threats: 

• Only install mobile applications from official app stores, such as Google Play on Android devices or the App Store on iOS
• Block the installation of programs from unknown sources in your smartphone’s settings
• Do not bypass device restrictions as this might provide cybercriminals with limitless capabilities to carry out their attacks
• Install system and application updates as soon as they are available — they patch vulnerabilities and keep devices protected. Note that the mobile OS system updates should never be downloaded from external resources (unless you are participating in official beta-testing). Application updates can only be installed through official app stores
• Use reliable security solutions for comprehensive protection from a wide range of threats, such as Kaspersky Security Cloud

Here's everything you need to know about the virus, including ways to protect yourself. 

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