WCNC asks Sterling Technology CEO about apps disguised as games that are stealing your information

WCNC asks Sterling Technology CEO about apps disguised as games that are stealing your information

]Smartphones are increasingly becoming a part of our every-days lives. There’s an app for everything these days. Sterling Technology Solutions provides managed technology services. The folks in Charlotte, NC and the other area we service come to us with all sorts of technology support questions, including smartphone apps. Hackers are very aware of new and trending apps as well as popular apps that have been in use for quite some time now.One of the newer tactics hackers are using is to create an app that looks very similar in the look, feel & naming of an existing app. These hackers make sure the app icon, splash pages, app navigation, etc. looks very similar to the genuine apps you know and trust. Users often fall prey to these fake apps, download them and use them as they would the genuine app. While using these imposter apps, users typically provide the hackers all sorts of sensitive information that can be used for all sort of criminal activities.A very simple way to protect yourself from accidentally downloading the wrong app is to look at the user reviews for that app. We recommend looking at two different things. First, check out the number of reviews the app has. Popular and widely-used apps should have thousands and thousands of reviews. Currently the Bank of America app has 1.8 million reviews. If you see a Bank of America app with the exact same icon with say a few dozen reviews, something’s wrong. Additionally, look at the quality of the reviews. Most apps typically have a 5 star-based rating. If you see a very popular app with a rating of 1 or 2 stars, something’s wrong.The companies that maintain app stores like Google & Apple have policies in place to cut down on these imposter apps, but they’re not perfect. The best protection is user education. Pay attention to what apps your downloading and don’t blindly click to download an app just because the icon looks familiar.If you’re in the Carolinas and would like to see how we can help manage the technology services for your business, feel free to contact us anytime!Sterling Technology Solutions focuses on IT Security& Cyber Security prevention and remediation for our Managed Services Clients as well as One-Time Projects.  Your data security is only as secure as your network.

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Sterling Technology Solutions - Your Last IT Service Provider.  Since 2003, our mission has been to help other North Carolina and South Carolina businesses succeed through Technology. Our ultimate goal is to help you maximize your business’ profitability and success through our innovative, managed IT solutions.