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Does security features in an OS translate into prevention of virus and malware being implanted in your device? If not, what are the means thru which these things get into my device? I am starting to use mobile Apps on occasion to access financial institutions.
Many times, yes. It's a combination of security features designed by the vendor (eg SIP or Gatekeeper on Macs that are on by default) or users taking steps themselves, such as downloading a more secure browser, using different security/privacy plug-ins or their browser, etc, etc.
Mobile apps from major companies/vendors tend to be trustworthy, as long as they're downloaded from the App Store and are 'certified' by Apple/Google and not downloaded from some third-party site. Further, I don't usually trust the vast majority of apps that anyone can throw up into an App Store for sale, though. That's where a lot of the problems come in, especially on Android.
I use financial apps on my iPhone w/o worry ... you can, too.
Of course, it's always good to be vigilant and if something feels funky, get it checked out by an expert!
Does security features in an OS translate into prevention of virus and malware being implanted in your device? If not, what are the means thru which these things get into my device? I am starting to use mobile Apps on occasion to access financial institutions.
Be careful what you click on. Better yet, don't click on anything.
My daughter transferred some money from her bank to her brokerage account the other day. The stupid bank sent her a text with a link to confirm. She asked my opinion--Dad is still good for some things --and I told her to call the number on the back of her bank card.
When you type Google.com on your mobile browser, the search page used to be blank, except the Google search bar. Lately, on my iPhone below the Google search bar, Google has been populating various articles based on your browsing history (similar to Apple News). I need to stop clicking on those articles / news items. That could be the source of my McAfee spam.
My daughter transferred some money from her bank to her brokerage account the other day. The stupid bank sent her a text with a link to confirm. She asked my opinion--Dad is still good for some things --and I told her to call the number on the back of her bank card.
Yikes! I would change banks....that is like 2005-era 'security' that EASILY could be faked by a baddie....
Check bank communication options - Email or text or both. In fact, many still retain old landline# for text - an impossibility.
Recently, I lost all 2FA channels for a brokerage account. Redoing was a royal headache due to tight security.
I wonder how all these hackers can hack passwords with millions/billions of tries, while most users are logged out after 2-3 tries. Vanguard is so confident of this that if your account is locked on Friday evening, there is NOBODY at Vanguard you can contact until 8:01am Monday. Your weekend may be ruined, but VG may just say, so what? Its systems are supposed to work like that. (VG hinted that my userID was too similar to another user's, and that "idiot" was mistyping his ID and locking me out. After 3rd time this happened, I grudgingly changed my userID)
The only Google offering that I allow anywhere near my computers is Google Earth, for which there is no other option. Google has one and only one motivation: to find out as much about you as possible, and then to somehow commercialize that information.
Thanks @WABAC. I think we both posted simultaneously and I would not have seen your last post if not for Rick’s reply. I would have instinctively clicked on the link your daughter received, though I should not. I need to practice more Impulse control.
Some good/interesting points, even if it comes from a company recently booted from the USA.....
It’s also not as if Kapersky doesn’t have a financial reason to make your think your computer is less secure than it is (and many of its contentions about security updates on MacOS and Safari are just plain wrong).
Comments
Mobile apps from major companies/vendors tend to be trustworthy, as long as they're downloaded from the App Store and are 'certified' by Apple/Google and not downloaded from some third-party site. Further, I don't usually trust the vast majority of apps that anyone can throw up into an App Store for sale, though. That's where a lot of the problems come in, especially on Android.
I use financial apps on my iPhone w/o worry ... you can, too.
Of course, it's always good to be vigilant and if something feels funky, get it checked out by an expert!
My daughter transferred some money from her bank to her brokerage account the other day. The stupid bank sent her a text with a link to confirm. She asked my opinion--Dad is still good for some things
Recently, I lost all 2FA channels for a brokerage account. Redoing was a royal headache due to tight security.
I wonder how all these hackers can hack passwords with millions/billions of tries, while most users are logged out after 2-3 tries. Vanguard is so confident of this that if your account is locked on Friday evening, there is NOBODY at Vanguard you can contact until 8:01am Monday. Your weekend may be ruined, but VG may just say, so what? Its systems are supposed to work like that.
(VG hinted that my userID was too similar to another user's, and that "idiot" was mistyping his ID and locking me out. After 3rd time this happened, I grudgingly changed my userID)