Security & Privacy at the Olympics

SECURITY AND PRIVACY AT THE OLYMPICS

By Lookout, Inc.

Heading to Russia for the Olympics?

Keep in mind that taking your phone in

public puts your privacy at risk.

So you’re saying I should

go live under a rock?

NO

You can enjoy the games without putting

your personal information at risk with

a little common sense, caution and these tips.

Stay native

Russia is a "hot zone" for mobile threats, where users had a 75%

likelihood of encountering a mobile threat in 2013. This is largely

thanks to unregulated 3rd party app stores and the availability of low

risk monetization paths like premium rate SMS fraud. But traveling to

the Olympics doesn't necessarily put your phone in jeopardy. 

Tip: Make sure your device settings reflect

your native or regular IP address. The Google

Play Store should be available to your device

as normal in Russia, so keep using the store as

it will be subject to Google's usual scrutiny. 

Don’t download on the fly

Every Olympics season since the dawn of mobile malware,

we've seen scammy apps that try to lure in the unsuspecting.

Knowing that the risk of encountering malware via any 3rd

party stores or side-load downloaded apps is 20 times higher

in Russia than back in the US, you should exercise caution

before downloading any "Olympic" app that comes your way. 

Tip: Use trusted app stores and Google Play when

downloading apps. Review all apps you download and

consult the official "Olympic app list" before clicking.

Make sure the Android system setting 'Unknown

sources' is unchecked to prevent dropped or drive-by-

download app installs. 

Avoid using public Wi-Fi

Your phone’s 3G or 4G data connection is probably more

secure than the Wi-Fi networks that thousands of people

are using. Stick to a secure connection, especially if you’ll

be logging into accounts, making purchases or entering

any private information about yourself.

Tip: Turn off Wi-Fi connectivity in your

phone’s settings unless you’re confident in

network security.

Watch your mobile wallet

 You'll find Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile

payment stations around the Russian Olympics for your

consumer convenience, but be cautious. 

$

Tip: Turn on NFC signals only when necessary and

download Lookout Mobile Security to protect your

mobile privacy and security, so your phone or credit

card information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Keep your eyes on your phone

From installing malware to taking the device itself, you

never know what might happen to your phone when

you’re not watching it closely.

Tip: Don’t leave your device unattended.

Watch out for phishing

Phishing scams use email, text messages, Facebook, and

Twitter to send you links to websites that are designed to trick

you into providing information like passwords or account

numbers. These messages and sites are often very difficult to

distinguish from those of your bank or other legitimate sources.

Tip: Do not click on links or open

attachments in email messages unless you

can verify who sent them and what they sent.

You’re using your mobile phone for so much this

Olympics — including maps to get around, as a credit card

via NFC, news feed and social communications. It would

be a big problem if your phone is lost or stolen. 

Be able to find your smartphone if it’s lost or stolen.

Tip: Install the Lookout app as a layer of

insurance for phone loss. You’ll be able to

locate your lost phone and even lock and wipe

it if you want to protect your sensitive data.

For more mobile security tips, follow