iPhone and Android users told to delete 7 commonly used apps NOW – or risk identity theft, bank raid and zapped battery
SMARTPHONE owners must go through their libraries and delete seven commonly used apps or face the risks, an expert has warned.
The risks are varied – ranging from a terrible battery life, to identity theft and bank fraud.
Speaking to The Sun, tech expert Sam Crawford, of By Crawford, said that apps you download while on holiday can bring on the post-vacation blues in more ways than one.
“If you downloaded apps specifically for your holiday, it’s wise to delete them afterwards,” Crawford explained.
“These apps may not be needed again and could pose privacy risks if they continue to collect data.
“By deleting them, you extend your battery life, save storage space, and protect your privacy.”
The fewer apps you have, the less opportunities hackers have to steal your personal or payment information.
“If an app is compromised in a data breach, your information could fall into the hands of malicious individuals who may misuse it for various reasons, including identity theft,” added Crawford.
The seven apps that should be deleted, include:
- Train and bus apps
- Ticket booking apps
- Taxi apps
- Bike rental apps
- Event apps
- Translation apps
- Currency conversion apps
“The main risk with currency conversion apps is that they may store sensitive financial data,” Crawford explained.
“They can access payment information, which could be exposed if the app’s security is compromised.”
That goes for any app that stores your payment details.
Another big reason to delete these apps, according to Crawford, is “unwanted surveillance”.
“These apps may continue to gather location information even when they’re not in use,” he said.
“The app may collect your location data to build a detailed profile of your behaviour, preferences, and routines, which is then used for targeted advertising.”
But all of this tracking is actually zapping your battery behind the scenes.
Having an unnecessary number of apps running in the background simply consumes battery power and slows down your device.
A ‘spring clean’ of your apps can improve your device’s battery life by up to 20 per cent – and reduce the amount of data they eat up, according to Crawford.
He added: “By deleting these apps, you reduce unnecessary background activity such as data syncing, updates, location tracking, and notifications.
“These apps may use your mobile data, consuming battery power and also some MBs of your data plan.”
Crawford recommends reviewing your app libraries and deleting unused apps every three months.
How to spot a dodgy app
Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs.
Follow this eight-point checklist when you’re downloading an app you’re unsure about:
- Check the reviews – be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts.
- Look out for grammar mistakes – legitimate app developers won’t have typos or errors in their app descriptions.
- Check the number of downloads – avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake.
- Research the developer – do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake?
- Check the release date – a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news.
- Review the permission agreement – this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary.
- Check the update frequency – an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities.
- Check the icon – look closely, and don’t be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps.
All of this information will available in both Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store.