We all have a sixth sense that perks up when something just doesn’t seem quite right. Sometimes it tells us not to walk down a dark alley and other times it steers us away from potentially harmful apps. Now, tech company, Qualcomm is helping give that sixth sense a boost by creating a chip with built-in ability to track apps and let you know that it is behaving oddly.
The Snapdragon 820 chip will contain Smart Protect technology which will alert you when something is strange and let you decide how to react to it. For example, if you have an app that asked for all kinds of access to your smartphone capabilities like the camera or microphone, it will let you know if after you close the app, something else is going on.
It also supposedly will let you know that a particular app that you are about to install could do something bad; like execute malware or ransomware that will hold your device hostage.
Qualcomm will need help from anti-virus (AV) and phone companies to make this a success. Three well-known AV companies have already publicly stated they will adopt this, and phone companies are currently evaluating if they will create their own programs based on it.
While there certainly are apps and software out there that flag potentially bad behavior, this technology is a bit different. It uses the capabilities that are built deep into the phone and therefore are more difficult for hackers to access and malware to get to.
In the meantime, when downloading apps, make sure you get them from the official app stores for your devices. These are monitored with more scrutiny than those offered elsewhere.
Keep all devices updated with the latest versions of the apps and operating systems to prevent them from remaining vulnerable to known exploits.
When deciding which app to get, do some research first. Make sure the reviews are favorable and there are enough of them to make them legitimate and are not posted just to trick you. This is especially true for games.
Make sure anti-malware is installed, even on mobile devices. These help flag suspicious behaviors and lets you know that something needs your attention.
Listen to your sixth sense and continue educating yourself on securing your devices so that you can keep your money and your identity safe.
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