INDIANAPOLIS - Your cell phone may be the next big target for thieves trying to steal your personal and private information.
A new study says there will be an increase in cyber attacks on smart phones in 2012.
It goes with us everywhere, that one piece of technology we carry all day long: our cell phone.
"I pretty much always carry it because I can do many things on it," said Jake Zatecki.
"Yeah, I have my phone with me more than my laptop," said Rico Jones.
"I pretty much have it on me at all times," added Trey Curtis.
That phone usually includes lots of information about you, your friends, your banking, even gps, tracking where you've been.
"Nowadays, it's like your smart phone knows your life better than you do," said IUPUI Computer & Information Technology Assistant Professor Feng Li. That's why a new study says smart phones are ripe for cyber attacks.
The report, released this week by the Georgia Tech Information Security Center and the Georgia Tech Research Institute, called it the next big security threat for 2012.
Since smart phones have traditionally had better security than desktop PC's, most people think they're safe.
"I feel a little bit more safe than on my computer because I'm sure the operating system is more secure on my phone," Zatecki said.
But experts say the risk on your phone is growing, and if a criminal got inside your phone, they could cause major problems.
Professor Li is studying that very issue at IUPUI. "If they can get into your phone, they can almost do everything. They can store your data, they can control the behavior of your phone. They can even control your phone and send out information and forge requests," Li explained.
Li says while there haven't been any large-scale attacks on cell phones yet, crooks are becoming more sophisticated and mobile-web device users should be aware of the risks.
Criminals' prime places to attack are through mobile browsers and applications. To protect yourself, never download apps from a third party and always read the fine print before downloading to make sure you're not agreeing to too much access.
"Only use applications that are from a trusted source," Li said. Also, keep them up to date.
Professor Li says newer versions sometimes enhance security and older versions have more vulnerabilities.
But the most important protection: "Try to reduce the amount of private information that we store on our phone," Li said.
Because what you don't show, the criminals can't find, even if they attack your phone.
On a desktop, viruses are usually caught by security programs, but those won't work on your phone because they'd drain the battery.
Here's the good news - just as crooks are getting more sophisticated, so are programs to defend against them.
Experts say more of those will come out in the next year, so keep an eye out for security updates.
