We can all agree that mobile is a great thing and numbers prove it. With 3.2 billion smartphone users worldwide, smartphone becomes an ever-more essential part of daily life. Mobile’s impact on emerging markets is even more critical. In the developing world, it is the ultimate communication device, empowering users and granting them with access to all the information in the internet. It is often the only way users can pay for digital services via their airtime balance, as most people are still unbanked.

Yet, smartphones come with a significant drawback – called mobile malware.

The increasing popularity and usage of smartphones have acted as a magnet for fraudsters, aiming to steal mobile data, collect and share users’ personal data and eat up their airtime balance.

Users may not notice anything at first, but there are some key signs indicating that malware may have sneaked into their phones. Check the infographic below and beware of the warning signs:

Even though the malware fraudsters are usually creative and adaptable finding ways around security measures, they shouldn’t go unchallenged. Here are some tips to keep your smartphone device protected:

• Read the reviews and check the developer details in the Google Play listing before downloading apps.
• Only install applications from trusted sources.
• When you install a new app, check the app’s permissions in “permission details”.
• Review the apps on your phone and uninstall any that don’t come from trusted sources.
• Make sure to uncheck the “Install from unknown sources” option on Android.
• Keep your OS software up-to-date to get the latest security fixes