[Lenay Nichols]

I must say I have learned, sometimes the hard way, or what I like to call the “find out on my own way” how real vulnerabilities can be on both my mobile and physical devices, especially as technology continues to grow.When connecting to Wi-Fi, it is always safer to use a VPN, avoid sensitive logins, and make sure websites are actually using HTTPS. These steps can help reduce the vulnerability of an attacker intercepting information if the network is unsecured. A huge and very common vulnerability that many of us have experienced involves malicious apps. I have downloaded a few unsafe apps over my younger years, and maturing meant realizing that I must review permissions and verify the developer before installing anything. I will admit I have been guilty of seeing an app and clicking download without fully reading through the permissions, but I have grown in this area by downloading apps only from trusted app stores and keeping my mobile systems up to date.
A third mobile threat is phishing through text messages or email, also called smishing. I have a friend right now who is dealing with someone hacking into their Instagram profile because they clicked on a suspicious link in their inbox, which shows why we must verify messages before clicking on links. Physical devices also have vulnerabilities. One is unauthorized physical access, such as leaving a laptop unlocked. By using strong passwords, screen locks, and encryption, this risk can be minimized tremendously. Another threat is infected USB devices, which can spread malware when plugged in, so we should avoid unknown USB drives and scan removable media before opening files. Finally, IoT devices like our smart cameras or thermostats often have weak default passwords, and we can protect ourselves by changing default passwords and updating firmware regularly. Overall, many vulnerabilities can be reduced by following basic security practices, staying aware of threats, and keeping devices updated.