Skip to main content

Avoiding Junk Phone Apps

In previous articles we’ve talked about keeping your computer safe from malware and from excess apps and files that can slow down your performance. What we haven’t talked much about before is the best way to protect your phone. The truth is that while your phone is safer from malware than your PC in many ways, you still need to be careful about what you download, and be aware of what certain apps are doing with your data.

Malware

Now, you may be thinking, “can my phone really get a virus?” The answer is “yes, but…” While there are legitimate malware threats out there that can infect your phone, there aren’t many programs that really infect your phone the way malware infects your computer. This is especially true for iPhones, since Apple’s “walled garden” development philosophy heavily restricts the access third party apps have to the device’s basic functions.

So, in other words, malware for phones does exist, but most of the time the threats to your phone are going to come from apps that misuse your data or that interfere with your user experience in some unpleasant way (usually by causing ads to pop up on your phone or trying to trick you into downloading other apps).

Pay Attention to Permissions

The first thing you need to look out for if you want to protect yourself from junk apps on your phone is apps that request permissions that don’t seem to have anything to do with their function. Why does that Solitaire app need access to location services? What does a flashlight app need with your contact list? A lot of these apps will ask for access to information stored in your phone that has nothing to do with the app’s purpose. Now, to be fair, the fact that an app asks for access to information it doesn’t need isn’t necessarily an indication that something nefarious is going on, or that the app’s developer is stealing and selling your data. But whether they’re misusing your data or not, it’s generally best not to give an app permission to access anything that isn’t directly relevant to its function.

Speaking of flashlight apps, you should probably just avoid them entirely. These days both iOS and Android have built-in ways to turn on the LEDs on your camera, so flashlight apps are entirely redundant, and while many of them are probably innocent, why risk the chance that one will misuse its access to your system?

Beware of System Cleaner Apps

Another kind of app you should probably avoid is the kind that claims to clean up your system and improve your phone’s performance. A lot of these apps promise to clean up cached data left behind by deleted apps or to improve your RAM usage by closing apps that are running in the background, all in the name of improving your phone’s performance and battery life. The truth is, though, that these apps aren’t actually doing you any good. When they’re running they use system resources just like any other app, just to do things that you don’t need an app for. You can clear out leftover data from old apps on your Android phone in just a couple taps in Settings, and both iOS and Android do a fine job of managing RAM usage without any help from a third party app.

To make matters worse, a lot of these apps display ads when you’re using them, which means they’re not just using your phone’s battery and other system resources, they might also be using up your cellular data. Some of them can even get pretty invasive with their ads, and some try and convince you to download other apps that can be similarly invasive.

So, to sum up, your phone’s operating system generally does a pretty good job of keeping itself optimized, and it does it without using extra system resources or impeding your user experience with ads like many optimizer apps do, so your best bet is to just avoid this kind of app.

At Phone Medics Plus, we don’t just want to be here for you when your phone breaks. We want to make sure you have the best experience with your phone you can. If you’re having problems with your phone, you can call us, schedule an appointment online, or just bring it to us at 91 E. Merritt Island Causeway and we’ll help you get it taken care of.
Labels:
Location: 91 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL 32952, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Best Free Antivirus Software

We’ve talked a lot in previous posts about how to keep yourself safe when you browse the internet. We’ve talked about avoiding malware , what to do if you get malware , and how to avoid phishing scams . In today’s post we’re going to go a little more in-depth with some of the tools you can use to protect your computer by giving you a quick rundown of some of the best antivirus software available for your computer.  All of the programs we’re talking about today are completely free, full-featured anti-malware programs. There are plenty of other paid programs out there that are as good or better, and that have more features, but today we’re focusing on ways you can protect your computer for free. Bitdefender Bitdefender is excellent at detecting and removing malware, it offers real-time virus protection, and protects you from fraudulent websites and phishing scams. That said, there are a few features you might like that are missing from the free version, including a password mana...
1 comment
Read more

The Best Cloud Backup Services

Anybody who’s ever suffered a data loss knows the importance of keeping your stuff backed up. In a previous post, we gave you a basic guide to keeping your computer backed up using a combination of on-site backups and cloud-based backups. Today we’re going to go a little more in-depth on the cloud backup piece of the equation. There are a lot of cloud backup services out there, so today we’re going to take a look at some of the best options. What To Look For The two main factors to consider when you’re looking for an online backup service are storage capacity and price. The first thing to do is figure out how much data you want to backup and decide how much (if any) more space you might need in the future. Once you’ve done that, you can start looking at prices for the amount of storage you need. Of course, there are other factors to consider. You want to make sure that the service offers a software client for your operating system, and look into how they plan to get your data ...
1 comment
Read more

Phone Medics Plus Accepts Donations For Family Promise Of Brevard

Phone Medics Plus is proud to partner with Family Promise of Brevard to help families in need in our community. We accept donations of used cell phones and late model laptops and PCs for those who are facing the challenge of homelessness in Brevard County. Homelessness brings many challenges, especially for families. A period of homelessness is one of the most difficult times in any family’s life. It is a time of fear and uncertainty, and escaping it can be extremely difficult. A cell phone or PC is a simple but powerful tool for navigating this difficult time. By donating your phone or late model laptop to Family Promise of Brevard, you’re providing families in need a lifeline to vital resources that can help them escape homelessness. With your used phone or PC, a family in need can search for jobs, search for housing, stay connected to their social support network, and have access to numerous other resources. Family Promise of Brevard was established in Palm Bay in 2007 as on...
Post a Comment
Read more