Cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes has released its annual “State of Malware” report, revealing that cyberattackers have shifted tactics and targets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the featured findings are:
- Significant increase in stalkerware across 2020;
- 565% increase in tracking applications between January and December last year;
- 1,055% increase in spyware detection in the same period.
<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust is a huge factor, and potential victims may well have allowed their would-be stalker access to their device. Many people have their spouse’s fingerprints on their mobile and do not expect this to be used nefariously. This is just as much a privacy problem as it is a security issue, but I would always advise people to scrutinise what is installed on their devices.</p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> </p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your devices should always be locked, and you should never use simple or easy-to-guess passcode, such as dates of birth or anniversaries. Most phones will allow you to check which apps are able to track and log your location, which can be a quick and easy way to monitor for any unknown apps. It\’s always advisable to check which apps are on your phone and conduct a virus scan where necessary. If there are any apps on your device that you do not recognise it is worth searching online for reviews and deleting them. As a general rule, if you aren\’t using an app, delete it as it could be modified to change its functionality.</p>