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device protection
App installation App privacy App security Cyber Security device protection

5 Things to Consider Before Downloading an App


Apps have become an essential means in today’s world whether it comes to communication, shopping, gaming, research, or almost anything else. And since apps are being used so widely, it has also become popular for threat actors to use them to target their next victims. 

Thus, it has become crucial to take caution before installing any app on your device. Here, we are mentioning five steps to consider, so you do not fall for any trouble after installing an app:  

Check Reviews And Ratings of Apps

Examining the reviews and ratings of an app is one of the finest ways to learn about its quality. It is easy to see user reviews of the software you wish to download if you browse app stores. It is most likely that you will certainly not go after an app which has got a bad review by many of its users. Moreover, if the app is not available in any well-known app store, you must make sure to look into it over the internet to check whether the app is trustworthy (or even real). 

It has been advised to not follow the reviews from only one review forum, but also from other review sites or discussion board 

Beware of What Information the App is Asking for

Threats to privacy are increasing as more individuals connect to the internet. You should carefully review the permissions the app asks for in order to access it before downloading it. You can easily determine what permissions an app needs if you download it from the app store.

In case you are not sure whether or not to put in certain information requested in order to grant access to an app, it is advised to avoid downloading it. However, if you have a positive view of the app, it is advised to first install the app on a test device to analyze the app’s workings (and look for any suspicious behaviour) before installing it on your main device. Try the free trial if a premium subscription is required to see whether it's requesting too much information before purchasing a membership. 

Check the App's Update Frequency and Support

An essential indicator of an app's long-term performance is how often it receives updates. It is also critical to ascertain how quickly and efficiently the app development team handles customer support issues and answers questions.

For app developers, pushing updates to their apps is essential to making sure they work properly and receive bug fixes and new features. Try to find out when the app was last updated when you are installing it. It is likely that you would not get the experience you are seeking if it was a long time ago.

Compare the App with Alternatives

There are a number of apps that carry out the same task, where one does it better than the other. Consider searching for alternatives to the app and contrasting their performance before installing it on your smartphone. To choose the one that works best for you, you should also review their privacy policies.

Once, you have analyzed what the alternative options have to offer, it will make it easier for you to understand which app to go for. A better app should be the one with better privacy and performance.

Back-Up Your Device

It is always a good idea to back up your devices, even before you install an app. By doing this, you safeguard all of your crucial data from being permanently lost in case of unfortunate cyber issues.

Unexpected problems might occasionally arise after installing an app, particularly if you downloaded it from an unreliable source. It can damage your device, contaminate your data, and more. By retrieving your data from the backup, you can avoid all of these. Thus, remember to back up your devices, especially before installing a large software update or an app.    

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Norton
antivirus software device protection malware McAfree Norton

Does Antivirus Detect and Remove All Malware?

Antivirus software has become an essential tool in safeguarding our system online and offline. However, the question often arises in our heads is whether these software programs provide us complete protection against all types of malware and viruses or not. 

It is worth investigating if antivirus software works 100% of the time and if it is capable of removing all malicious software from your devices or not. 

Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware software, is a computer program that is designed to prevent, detect, and eliminate malware from the system with the emergence of other types of cybersecurity threats such as worms, trojans, spyware, and adware, antivirus software has evolved to offer protection against a wide range of computer threats. 

Additionally, some antivirus software also provides features that guard against malicious URLs, spam, and phishing attempts to provide more comprehensive protection. Since we know cybercrimes do not have limits, there are thousands of hackers around the world looking to exploit victims, be it for their data or money, or both. 

Antivirus software scans your device regularly for potential threats in your devices and identifies potential threats coming from incoming files and apps such as malware and viruses. Either you can choose to conduct manual scans or have the program run scans automatically. 

The software uses a database of known dangerous code, files, and other content to better identify potential threats and keep your device safe. When an antivirus program identifies a malicious file or program, it isolates it to prevent further harm to the device. The program then checks the file or program for potential risks and removes it from the device if it is deemed harmful. 

However, how effective is this process; is it 100% risk-free? 

According to the data, no antivirus software can provide 100% protection in detecting, isolating, and removing all harmful files. Even top providers like Norton and McAfee may not be able to detect new malware that is not yet on their database. 

As we discussed, antivirus programs use a database of known malicious files and code to identify and delete them from your devices. However, if a kind of malware comes along that is not logged on the antivirus database, it will fail to work. 

Also, some malware and viruses are designed to avoid detection by antivirus programs, for instance, stealth viruses, which use code modification and encryption to bypass standard scans. These types of viruses may require more advanced software to be detected and deleted. 

However, not updating your antivirus programs will increase the chances of malware going undetected and leaving vulnerabilities for cyber actors to compromise. 

Nevertheless, Norton and McAfee have 99% success rates in protecting your system. Antivirus programs also offer additional security features like VPNs, firewalls, and, password managers.
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