DFNDR – PSafe Blog

6 Ways That Cybercriminals Try to Take Over Your Device

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 13:00:40 +0000

Cybercriminals are always on the hunt for new ways to hack into your device in order to record your phone calls, read your text messages, gain access to your photo library and use this information against you. It’s clear there are many ways malware can reach your device. A great way to protect your device from phishing scams and malware is by using dfndr security’s anti-hacking feature:

The anti-hacking feature stops cybercriminals in their tracks, by alerting you to a suspicious link even before you click on it. To understand how cybercriminals really work, here are 6 ways they target your smartphone.

1) Public Wi-Fi “Honeypots”
Not all Wi-Fi networks are secure, and one popular method used to reel you in is through unsecured wireless Internet networks, which you can find in many public places. Scammers use “honeypot” names such as “Airport Wi-Fi” or “Coffee Shop” to lure you into their network, paving the way for a cyber attack. You can avoid this scenario by turning your Wi-Fi off in public places, and use your mobile data plan instead for short online interactions.

2) Hidden Bluetooth Vulnerabilities
If you own a smartphone, chances are it has Bluetooth capabilities to connect with other devices. Security researchers have found airborne vulnerabilities in unpatched versions of Android operating systems. This allows hackers into a device without you clicking on any links or downloading content. You can avoid this attack is by turning off Bluetooth in public places.

3) Fake Apps With Malware
Hackers often spread malware by designing apps that look identical to popular social media networks, games, and other apps that are frequently downloaded. In some cases, these apps are advertised via email or text, encouraging you to download what is often indistinguishable from the real thing but has malicious coding built into the design. Once you download the malicious app, hackers can control your phone and steal your personal information or “ransom” your device until you pay them.

4) Facebook Messenger App Backdoor
Real apps can be dangerous too as security researchers discovered a hacking backdoor in Facebook Messenger. The technology allows hackers to launch a man-in-the-middle attack in Messenger, using your personal messages to set you up for a crime or speak to friends and family on your behalf.

5) Malevolent Product Barcodes
Today’s technology allows us to scan barcodes in order to pay for products or services with our phones. However, cybercriminals have created a series of QR codes that allow them to infiltrate your device through cameras or sensors. A simple email with a message offering you a good deal on an item or a phishing scheme with a barcode is all it takes to compromise a smartphone.

6) Subtitles in Streaming Apps
Any device using popular streaming apps VLC, Kodi (XMBC), Popcorn-Time, or strem.io could be vulnerable to an attack while watching content. Hackers create fake subtitles, which users download to their streaming service and introduce malware to their phone.

Just knowing what cybercriminals are up to is half the battle to ensure your Android phone is safe, along with having an advanced antivirus app installed. Those 2 combined means you’re on the winning side.

How Do Websites Know You’re Using an Ad Blocker?

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 13:00:27 +0000

Ads are often a pesky, disruptive, and noisy inconvenience to Internet users. They can also be malicious, too. If you’re forced to visit a website without your ad blocker, make sure to download dfndr security and enable the anti-hacking feature. While you’re browsing, this tool will protect you from phishing attempts or other malicious activity. anti-hacking will also send you notifications if you encounter any threats, so your personal information will never be at risk.

When ad blockers hit the market, everyone sighed with relief. But the websites that make their money from advertising were certainly unhappy with this turn of events. Their outrage led to the development of ad blocker detection software, which can identify if a browser is equipped with an ad blocker. This software will then block a user from accessing a website’s content unless the user disables the ad blocker. In the long run, websites are likely saving money by investing in this software, as opposed to losing all of their ad revenue. The following will tell you how to use your ad blocker on these protected websites.

3 Ways of Getting Around Ad Blocker Detectors
So, you’ve run into a website that knows you’re using an ad blocker. Here are 3 easy methods to regain access to that website on your device:

Whitelist the website. This strategy is catering to the website’s demands, which has detected your ad blocker. By whitelisting this specific site, you’re agreeing to suffer through the ads, in order to retain your visitor privileges. Keep in mind that deciding to whitelist a website means that your ad blocker is still active on other sites. However, you could also “pause” your ad blocker temporarily while on the website instead of whitelisting the site.
Disable JavaScript. Most advertisements utilize JavaScript to run. So, if you disable it, the ads disappear, too. There are, however, some disadvantages to this approach. For instance, if the website has any video elements that you do want to see. Removing JavaScript means these features won’t play, either. Therefore, this approach is best for read-only websites, like news carriers or personal blogs.
Install a Tampermonkey script. For more tech-savvy users, you have the option of installing a script to bypass “ad-blocker blockers.” To activate the script in Chrome, paste it into your Tampermonkey plug-in. Now, your ad blocker can run freely across websites where it couldn’t before. However, it’s still unclear whether this script works for all websites.

These Are the Hottest New Gaming Apps

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:00:22 +0000

Summer is an amazing time to be a gaming enthusiast. Just like in Hollywood, there’s a plethora of fantastic, brand-new games that launch each season. So, check out the below list of the most sizzling offerings in the Google Play store. They’re ideal for both newbie and expert gamers, and offer great graphics, entertainment value, and everything you could possibly want in your Android games. After you download one of these games from the Google Play store, take a second to make sure that Game Booster is enabled. Click here to enter your phone’s gaming mode:

The Game Booster feature was designed to increase gaming performance on your Android, by freeing up RAM space and optimizing your phone’s performance levels. With Game Booster, you’ll experience faster and better gameplay. It’s the perfect way to experience the best games launching this summer.

Angry Birds Evolution
The Angry Birds Franchise is back with another hit. Rovio’s newest launch, Angry Birds Evolution is much edgier than its predecessors. Instead of adorable cartoon heroes, the birds are meaner, tougher, and ready to rumble, as they chase the villainous pigs off of Pig Island. The game features console-quality graphics, which is a first for Angry Birds, and its vibe is distinctly adult-only.

Slayaway Camp
For gamers with a love of VHS-era horror flicks, Slayaway Camp could be your perfect July discovery. Also, unlike many gaming apps, you get to play the bad guy. As Skullface, the cutest killer ever, you will wreak havoc on a summer camp as you try to solve a complex, isometric puzzle. It’s a lot of gruesome fun! Keep in mind, this game is definitely not suitable for kids.

Galaxy On Fire 3: Manticore
Galaxy on Fire is a popular sci-fi franchise, which allows you to captain a futuristic spaceship and do battles with friends in alternate universes. The third installment of the Galaxy on Fire series was finally released in late May. Since then, the game received consistently positive reviews. In Galaxy On Fire 3, the controls have been streamlined for Android, allowing for more cell phone-friendly playing, but the game’s vibrant graphics are still as ethereal as ever.

Battle Bay
If you’re looking for a new MOBA game for this summer, Rovio’s Battle Bay is for you. Battle Bay’s domain is the sea, where you’ll choose a ship to captain, load it with firearms, and start sailing into dangerous waters. This real-time, multi-player app allows you to build teams of 5 players — and get ready to do battle with an opposing team!

CopyCat Malware Affects 14 Million Devices

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 01:00:43 +0000

We’re all aware that our mobile devices are at risk of being hacked at any given moment, but when that fear becomes a reality, it can be hard to face. These malicious attacks are serious, and allowing them to take a hold of your device is an unwanted headache that you don’t want to deal with. To negate the possibility of an attack, it’s important to take advantage of DFNDR’s various anti-virus features to protect your device. Click here to use the Full Virus Scan to check your device for hidden malware:

When you take advantage of the Full Virus Scan feature, you can use your smartphone confidently, knowing that you’re well-protected from malware and hackers. You’ll have more privacy and control, as well as a better-performing device — and what could be better than that?

The CopyCat Malware
A newly uncovered malware strain, dubbed “CopyCat,” has infected more than 14 million Android users around the world, drawing in approximately $1.5 million in fake advertisements in only two month’s time. This malware has the ability to root infected devices, to establish persistency, and to inject malicious code into Zygote. This is a daemon that is capable of launching apps on Android and allowing hackers full access to the infected devices.

Most of the victims of this malicious attack reside in South and Southeast Asia. However, more than 280,000 Android devices in the U.S. have been affected by this malware. Experts believe that millions were infected with this malware through third-party app downloads as well as phishing attacks. To protect your device from this type of malware, make sure to only download apps from Google Play, and to use our Anti-Hacking feature to protect your device from phishing attempts and malicious websites:

This malware works by disguising itself as a popular and trusted Android app that users choose to download from third-party stores. Once it is added onto a device, the malware begins to collect data from the phone; it then downloads rootkits to root itself within the smartphone, which proves to be the window to more information and power.

After that, the malware removes the device’s security defenses, injects a code into the Zygote app, and launches a process to fraudulently install apps and display fake ads. When these ads are clicked on, they generate revenue. The tricky thing about these ads is that CopyCat abuses the Zygote process and works to display these fake ads while hiding their origins. That means that Android users cannot understand what causes these pop-up ads, meaning that they also don’t know how to stop them.

Which Apps Affect Your Android’s Performance the Most?

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 01:30:55 +0000

Think of all of the games, videos, photos, web pages, and apps that you have on your phone. Your Android can handle a lot, but letting these tasks run in the background of your phone can affect your phone’s performance considerably. If you’ve ever snapped a photo and forgotten to manually close your camera afterwards, you may have noticed that the app is still active and taking up valuable power on your phone’s processor. Luckily, there’s an easy way to take control of your background tasks. Click here to use Floating Window to monitor and improve your phone’s performance:

The Floating Window feature makes it simple to keep track of which tasks are affecting your Android’s performance by displaying how much of your phone’s memory is currently being used. Additionally, Floating Window offers a “clean” feature that closes all unneeded tasks with just one click. Make sure to continually “clean” your phone with Floating Window if you notice its performance slowing down. Doing so will ensure a seamless, optimized Android experience.

To enable Floating Window, open your DFNDR app and tap the menu icon. Select “settings,” then click “Floating Window.” Slide the slider to the right to enable “Floating Window.” This function only needs to be enabled once. Once you turn it on, it’ll run and assess your phone’s performance automatically.

Why Your Phone’s Processor Matters

But what is a processor? Processors are, essentially, the “heart” of your phone. They are full-fledged computers that power the device by executing commands such as displaying GPS directions. The “core” of the processor is essentially the “boss” of the operation: it reads and gives out the instructions.

How does this affect your phone? Well, think of it as juggling; the more pins you have to juggle, the harder they become to manage. When you forget to close tasks on your Android, they add up and make it difficult for the processor’s core to give instructions, potentially causing your phone to crash.

Disable Apps that Slow Your Phone

You may have noticed that certain apps will affect your phone’s performance more than others. These apps may slow your phone because they were poorly designed by the app developer, or because they are demanding, high quality apps. Some of the apps that may slow your phone the most include social networking apps and gaming apps. Make sure to use Floating Window to monitor how these apps affect your phone’s performance, and to close any apps once you are done using them.

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Facebook Messenger

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:12 +0000

Every 20 minutes, 3 million messages are sent using Facebook Messenger. That’s a lot of communication being passed back and forth. One way to manage all the GIFs, photo or files you receive from your friends, is by using the Facebook Messenger Cleaner to rid yourself of old files:

As you keep Messenger optimized with Facebook Messenger Cleaner, you may not be aware there are many benefits that this chat app has to offer — no tech expertise required. Check them out below.

Use Messenger Without a Facebook Account

Just like with WhatsApp, you can join Facebook Messenger only using your mobile number.

Chat with Companies and Groups

When on mobile, you can easily start chats with companies and even learn new skills. Open Messenger on your Android and look at the bottom of your screen. Click on the hexagon-shaped icon on the far right to get started. These ChatBots can help you pick out gifts, improve your vocabulary, answer company-specific questions, and save you money on trips.

Search Through Conversations

Whenever you’re on your PC and need to look back through your message history for a specific piece of information, open your chat in Messenger. Click on the settings icon on the pop-up chat screen to access this. You’ll then see a “Search in Conversation” option on the right-hand side of your screen.

Mark Items as Unread

If you accidentally open a message you are not ready to reply to, easily mark it as unread so that you remember to return to it later. To do this, open Messenger on your PC, click on the settings icon, and select “Mark as Unread.”

Make Plans with Your Contacts

Create calendar events in your chat windows and have Facebook remind you and your friends of plans. On mobile Messenger, open a conversation, click on the information logo on the top left, and select “Plan.” Select the date and time and it will automatically appear in your chat window. Click on the bubble that appears to add a plan name and location.

Securely Send Money

Pay your friends back for dinner or request money from the guy who’s buying your old phone with just a few clicks. Simply open up your chat window, select the “$” sign, and enter the amount. No bank account or card information is exchanged. Just set up a payment and receiving method in your personal settings.

Best Password Managers for Your Android Devices

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 02:00:24 +0000

Keeping track of multiple passwords can be a difficult task, especially if each password contains a different mix of numbers, upper- and lowercase letters, and symbols. While it can be tempting to use simple and memorable passwords, or the same two passwords across all accounts, this approach can pose a severe threat to all of your most sensitive accounts. DFNDR users looking to protect themselves from password and data theft should activate Anti-Hacking on their device. Click here to stay safe online:

Anti-Hacking will not only protect devices from malicious sites, but it will also protect sensitive login credentials from hackers by blocking phishing attempts. In addition to using Anti-Hacking, you should also consider using a password manager on your Android. This is a secure app which stores and generates multiple passwords through the same encrypted platform. Check out some of the best password managers below.

1Password

This password app generator relies on AES 256-bit encryption and depends on end-to-end encryption, so that your private login information is only ever decrypted offline. Through the app, users can create strong passwords and memorable passphrases, and sync the app across devices. The app allows users to organize information and passwords into categories, from addresses and bank accounts, to credit cards and driver’s licenses. Information can be tagged, favorited, and split into different vaults to keep work and personal information separate. Unlike many other password apps, 1Password allows users to link team and family accounts within the platform.

Dashlane

Dashlane is one of the best options for free password management. Also equipped with AES 256-bit encryption, Dashlane offers local-only and cloud backup options, fingerprint ID, and the ability to encrypt all in-app passwords. Users can rely on the app to generate passwords, sync devices through the platform, and lock passwords automatically if the device is lost. In addition, Dashlane offers a Digital Wallet feature, which will organize credit card information, sync all mobile apps for express checkout, store receipts in a payments section, and auto-fill mobile web forms automatically.

aWallet Password Manager

The aWallet Password Manager is one of the most versatile options within the password manager market. Not only does the app securely store passwords, it also collects credit card information, e-banking credentials, and web accounts, along with other custom data. The application relies on AES 256-bit and blowfish encryption, and supports the destruction of personal data after repeated unsuccessful attempts to unlock the app. The app relies on numerous safety features to protect your account against hacking attempts, including offline efforts.

Introducing dfndr Assistant: Protection With One Tap

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 01:04:18 +0000

PSafe Technology, one of the foremost providers of security and optimization solutions for Android, is enhancing our flagship dfndr security app, with a new dfndr Assistant feature. Instead of multiple notifications clogging your home screen, tap on the dfndr icon and receive a summary of the security of your phone and its performance.

This indispensable dashboard will provide options to scan for malware or virus threats, ways to maximize phone storage, and suggestions to increase battery life — all in one handy control center.

Whether it’s apps that are slowing down your phone, files that need cleaning out, or suspicious links that could compromise your personal information, the dfndr Assistant feature has your back on safety and performance. Also, it’s easy to use.

Additional Benefits For You

With this new release, the ads-free version of our core DFNDR security app is also available. Ads-free dfndr is a direct response to your valuable feedback for a premium version without ads. At only $4.99, Ads-free dfndr is a comparable cost for the same standout security and performance features you’ve come to rely on, without ads popping up. To upgrade, simply navigate within the dfndr app to complete your purchase.

In Brazil, we help 3 million users reclaim an average of 6MB of storage per day with WhatsApp Cleaner. In the U.S., we recognize that Facebook Messenger is more widely used so we’ve added a Facebook Messenger Cleaner to help U.S. Android users free up more space for the photos, videos, and apps they really care about.

The Changing Landscape of Security

2016 saw a rise in malware attacks on Android phones after findings from the University of Michigan were published, along with Google releasing patches to fix 108 vulnerabilities alone in July of 2016. This disturbing trend is growing with new malware being discovered at alarming rates.

Criminal networks don’t just focus on compromising laptops or computers any longer, but also your smartphone. Your device contains immense amounts of sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, photos, and other personal details.

As technology morphs, controlling your car or the temperature of your home will be monitored from all the devices you own, including smartphones. While these developments are exciting, the slew of undetected vulnerabilities for thieves or hackers to infiltrate every aspect of your life is not fictional.

PSafe Technology’s increased efforts in intelligent security with accessibility is a vision we re fulfilling and the dfndr Assistant feature is only the beginning of leading-edge protection.

These robust additions to our popular dfndr security app are now available worldwide. Activate features dfndr Assistant or Facebook Messenger Cleaner and enjoy total protection and optimal performance:

Tips for Using Wi-Fi Safely When Traveling Abroad

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:00:11 +0000

Free Wi-Fi networks are notorious for putting your data at risk and opening your devices to possible hacking attacks. When accessing these networks while traveling abroad, the risks associated with free Wi-Fi become even greater. When connecting to an unknown or public Wi-Fi network, you should take advantage of DFNDR’s Wi-Fi Check feature. This function will verify download speeds, DNS security, and network security, clearing up concerns about which hot spots to trust. Click here to check your Wi-Fi:

While the smartest approach is to rely solely on data, this may not be a viable option for most travelers due to cost. In situations where you feel the need to rely on free hot spots, be sure to use Wi-Fi Check and to follow the safety tips listed below.

The Risk

When targeting tourists through Wi-Fi, hackers typically rely on one of two main tactics. In both cases, sensitive data can be viewed, recorded, and stolen by hackers. These attackers can potentially view your passwords, social networks, important documents, emails, bank account information, and much more through the compromised device.

The first tactic involves tracking users’ movements on unencrypted Wi-Fi channels. In this instance, hackers can capture all data sent to and from your computer and, with websites who don’t use HTTPS, can view your usernames and passwords, as well. In some instances, unprotected networks can enable Man-In-The-Middle attacks, in which traffic sent from your device to another is intercepted, recorded, or adjusted and then passed on.

The other risk Wi-Fi users face when traveling abroad includes fake hot spots offered for free, often mimicking the name of a known and trusted free Wi-Fi network. Oftentimes, these networks will appear to mobile users as Starbucks or Apple Store hot spots, when in fact they are malicious connection points.

Safety Tips

When leaving on a trip, you should change passwords, using a strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. In addition, your phone’s Wi-Fi setting should be switched off when not in use to prevent automatic connection to nearby hot spots. Before connecting to a Wi-Fi network, verify that the channel is encrypted and authentic. This can be done by verifying the network name with hotel managers or airport employees. When using these networks, only access encrypted channels (ones where the URL begins with “HTTPS”).

Make sure to turn off sharing settings, program your devices to “forget” Wi-Fi connection, and enable two-factor authentication for all accounts.

PSafe Launches in U.S. to Safeguard Connected Experiences

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:22:05 +0000

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4, 2016 — PSafe, the mobile security solution safeguarding connected experiences, announced today its entry into the U.S. market. With over 20 million monthly active users (MAUs), PSafe is currently the largest mobile security solution in Latin America. The company is launching in the U.S. with a new office in San Francisco.

PSafe has detected 645,000 cases of malware on U.S. Android devices in the past 30 days. Yet, 60 percent of U.S. Android users still choose not to keep a security app on their mobile devices, according to a recent PSafe survey of 1,000 U.S. respondents conducted in August 2016. On average, PSafe data shows that U.S. Android users are attacked by malware once every seven weeks. PSafe’s Android apps allow users to simply and quickly safeguard their devices, providing peace of mind for users to safely browse the web, access their personal information, and share files with others.

PSafe offers solutions that not only protect its users, but also increase productivity of mobile devices. Its most popular app, PSafe Total, works invisibly in the background, protecting users while they browse, chat, shop, and share files. PSafe Total includes alerts for Wi-Fi connection security; detection and cleanup of space-wasting trash files created by popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat; and device CPU temperature monitoring to improve performance and prevent crashes. In addition to its two applications currently launching today in the U.S., PSafe Total and PSafe PowerPRO, PSafe will launch new applications later this year.

Based and founded in Brazil in 2010 by Silicon Valley veterans Marco de Mello, Ram Rao, and Benjamin Myers, PSafe is ranked among the best antivirus software for Android in the world by AV-TEST, most recently in July 2016. PSafe’s standout scores included 100-percent detection of Android malware in real time, and complete detection of the latest Android malware (discovered within the last four weeks). PSafe received top marks for not shortening device battery life, not slowing device performance, and having minimal impact on usage of data traffic usage. Additionally, PSafe is the only major security company in the world that runs a security research lab in Latin America, identified by Microsoft and Symantec as one of the major hot zones for malware infections. The company is backed by Redpoint Ventures, e.ventures, Redpoint eventures, Pinnacle Ventures and Index Ventures.

“When we first developed PSafe, we knew we needed a large test market,” said Marco de Mello, CEO and co-founder of PSafe. “Brazil is one of the most infected countries in the world for Android, proving it a sound testing ground for our security solutions. We’re excited to bring PSafe to the States, after all our learnings in Latin America, to enable U.S. users to freely and safely express, explore and connect on their mobile devices.”

Within its presence in Brazil and Latin America, PSafe is a trusted name in mobile security. Most recently, PSafe was a mobile security provider during the Olympic games, thwarting 55,588 security threats during the event held in Rio de Janeiro. PSafe also has been credited with other numerous malware discoveries; most notably a Brazilian banking Boleto (payment slip) malware, that resulted in up to $180 million in potential losses; a WhatsApp SMS malware; and most recently, a Pokémon Go fake app, which majorly impacted developing countries. The company’s successful track record also resulted in an agreement with Cisco® Wireless Portfolio for the creation of a new free and secure Wi-Fi service, rolling out in Brazil today.

“With Android devices dominating the mobile market, it’s concerning that many consumers don’t realize the magnitude of consequences they could face in not safeguarding their devices,” said Jeff Brody, partner at Redpoint Ventures. “PSafe makes it easier than ever for consumers to protect themselves from mobile security threats. Its proven track record in Latin America makes the timing and opportunity ripe for expansion into the U.S., one of the largest Android mobile markets.”

PSafe products are available for free download in the U.S. For more information, go to the Google Play store.