Security agency warns against cyber threat

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 9

India’s cyber security agency — CERT-In — has cautioned people against threats to personal mobile phones from spyware and ransomware as the use of Internet-enabled devices has increased owing to nationwide lockdown in the wake of Covid.

In a fresh advisory, the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) has issued over a dozen suggestions to keep mobile phones secure. It stated: “A spyware steals sensitive personal data of a user, while a ransomware takes control over login and other vital credentials of an individual and only releases them after money is paid to it through dubious online transactions.”

“OS and apps update mobile operating systems like Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android platform and Microsoft’s Windows phone provides regular updates to users that resolve security vulnerabilities and other mobile security threats as well as provide additional security and performance options and features to users,” it said while suggesting counter-measures and healthy practices.

The advisory also recommends keeping app software up to date as “apps with out-of-date software may be at risk of exploitation of known vulnerabilities.” Also, delete apps you don’t use, it said. The agency asked the users “not to download from unknown sources as such apps might contain malwares.