How Does Samsung Protects Your Smartphones From Hackers

We now live, work, and play almost exclusively on our smartphones. The phone has even become the only thing that many of us bring with us when we leave the house, replacing our laptops, wallets, and even house keys.

We’re generally more aware of the risks hackers pose to our laptop computers and desktop computers today, but smartphones are also prone to cyber attacks. Hackers go where the crowds are and right now, that’s mobile devices. That’s why it’s never been more important to stay safe, and why we’re constantly innovating to protect you and your data against emerging threats.

Worldwide, there are billions of smartphones filled with sensitive personal and business data, providing hackers with an endless source of information to steal. Security firm IronNet reported that cyberattacks have increased 168% between May 2020 and May 2021, and exploitation of smartphones has become one of the biggest threats to cybersecurity in Asia Pacific.

Through Samsung Knox, Samsung is dedicated to keeping customers safe and secure throughout their device’s entire lifecycle. Samsung Knox keeps you safe from five potential cyberattack scenarios, and explains how it does this in line with the company’s ethos of putting security at the forefront of every decision we make.

Cyberattack Scenario 1: Unauthorized backdoor access

Developers, both inside and outside of Samsung, regularly create ‘backdoors’ to enable easy access to apps, devices, and software to facilitate troubleshooting. Hackers are nevertheless able to find and exploit these backdoors, which usually bypass any and all cybersecurity measures on the device for which they are meant.

Downloading unofficial or unauthorized apps can result in unauthorized backdoor access. Besides the possibility of introducing malware or spyware that lead to unauthorised backdoor access, downloading software other than the manufacturer’s original setup could also compromise the device’s operating system.

Samsung uses a highly secure facility to manufacture its smart devices. Before using computer chips, wiring, and other hardware components in our smart devices, Samsung creates, creates, and validates them. Using a chip-up approach, we have complete control over the design, manufacturing, and assembly of our devices, ensuring a secure supply chain and preventing unauthorised access to our devices and resulting in an end product that is completely trusted by our users.

Cyberattack Scenario 2: Compromised, weak, or re-used passwords
The more new accounts users create for digital services ranging from telehealth to ridesharing to e-commerce, the more vulnerabilities hackers are exposed to. In a survey by IBM conducted in August 2021, 86% of Asian consumers admitted to reusing the same credentials for multiple online accounts. An individual’s entire internet footprint can be exposed just by one attack – a poor data privacy habit.

Samsung devices have advanced biometric authentication technology, such as Ultrasonic Fingerprint, which can protect access to data even if the device is lost or stolen. With Samsung Pass, you don’t have to remember a lot of usernames and passwords while accessing your log-in credentials! Additionally to Knox Vault, it provided Knox Guard, a secure processor that operates independently of the main processor. Knox Vault protects the sensitive biometric data on your phone by isolating it from the rest of your device.

Cyberattack Scenario 3: Free Wi-Fi may not be so free after all
Those who use their mobile devices for work or play often need access to the Internet on free Wi-Fi hotspots. In spite of this, public Wi-Fi services may provide a way for hackers to steal your data since the information you send across the web – such as credit card information for online purchases – might pass through a hacker’s hands via a public Wi-Fi network.
The Secure Wi-Fi feature on Samsung phones encrypts outgoing internet traffic and disables tracking apps and websites. Using this, you can browse the internet on public wireless networks without worrying about security breaches.

Cyberattack Scenario 4: Phishing attacks compromising sensitive data
In Phishing, cyber criminals spoof links, attachments, or even legitimate apps to trick their victims into passing over sensitive information or installing malware on their devices. You may be able to expect hackers to use your sensitive information for a variety of purposes, such as enlisting your money to pay ransom, stealing your personal information, or making purchases using your credit card information.

Device Protection in Samsung Device Care scans your device continuously for malware, and McAfee technology detects malicious apps that are mistakenly installed on your device and alerts you when you do so. Additionally, Samsung Secure Folder helps keep users’ data safe by isolating problematic apps inside the folder and keeping those apps away from personal information.

With Samsung Pay, when you use your mobile device to make purchases, your card information is encrypted and completely isolated to protect it at all times.

Cyberattack Scenario 5: Zero-day vulnerability
Hackers and cyber attackers are constantly looking out for zero-day vulnerabilities since they are constantly attempting to hack into devices. Zero-day vulnerabilities are those in a system or device that have been discovered but have not yet been patched. Cybercriminals typically target flaws in a system before developers or the public are aware they exist, so this can be particularly dangerous.

Samsung Knox makes sure your device is always protected from data attacks and malware in real time. The core of your phone is protected from unauthorized modifications in real time. Secure Boot, a multi-layered, defense-grade security feature, detects unauthorized software and blocks any attempts to compromise a Samsung smartphone through the device’s reboot process. Samsung Knox automatically locks apps with sensitive data if the smartphone is booted in an unapproved state, such as Samsung Pay, Samsung Pass, Secure Folder and Samsung Health.

Securing the future
No matter where we are – from home to school to the office – smartphones are part of our digital lives. Our loved ones and ourselves are constantly at risk from cyber threats, so we must remain vigilant and take an active role in protecting ourselves and our loved ones.

Samsung provides Knox protection not only on its smartphones, but also on its smart appliances – adding an extra layer of security to their portfolio. The SmartView app allows you to mirror the video you are watching on your Galaxy device to the screen on the Family Hub and the AI feature on your EcoBubble washing machine lets you calibrate the wash settings accordingly.

As a Samsung user, you can have peace of mind knowing that your devices are secured and protected with the highest level of privacy and security.