May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE,Tenn. (WVLT) -- With all the new applications and special services phones are providing these days, it's just as easy to catch a virus on your phone as it is on your computer.
"There is a potential that someone could send you a text message and if you clicked on that text message it could then start a download that would take over your phone right there," said President of Fountainhead College of Technology Richard Rackley.
Tech experts say that users should also be aware of the personal information they access on their phones - because hackers could get their hands on it.
"A lot of people don't secure their phones. So if you lose your phone odds are someone is just going to turn your phone on and they have your pictures, they have all your information, they have your conversations maybe banking information just depends on what all you have," said Rackley.
That information can be protected by passwords or touch screen patterns - and if you lose it, there are other options.
"The first thing I suggest is if you do lose your phone to contact your wireless provider immediately so they can suspend your service and also if you have a smart phone that you get company email on I suggest that you contact your employer too so they can stop the synchronization of email, " said Jack Brundige, director of sales for U.S. Cellular.
But if all else fails - the pros say use you're common sense.
"Know where it is at all times. Don't let anyone borrow your smartphone. Don't visit any unprotected websites and then be very careful about downloading any data from sources you can't trust," said Brundige
