How to Protect Your Phone and Computer from Viruses

The is a reason that digital detoxing is an actual thing. We use technology all. the. time. We're not going to lie, we LOVE tech. Our iphone cameras are our blogging + social media lifeline, and without our phones and computers, JUGS simply would not exist. That said, we don't do much to virtually protect our tech. Sure, we have renter's insurance incase our phones/computers get lost or stolen, but what about viruses, spam, and weirdness like that? Let's talk. 

YOU ARE AT RISK

Usually, we think of viruses as strictly a computer issue, but don't be fooled. In 2016, over a million android phones were damaged by something called the gooligan virus, and just last month, malware known as FalseGuide was inadvertently downloaded by two million people. You might be thinking, who would be stupid enough to download something sketchy at this day in age? But things are trickier than that. The malware was hidden in normal, typically trustworthy apps and games.

iPhone users are not immune either. There are plenty of viruses and hacks that target mac products. Be especially aware of error notices that don't look quite right. And do your research on EVERY app you download. 

PROTECT YOUR PHONE

First things first: don't use public wifi on a device that has sensitive information (think passwords, bank info, etc). Next, find out if your phone, computer or tablet is already compromised by any viruses. 

You can do this by scanning your device with an antivirus software, like AVG - which is compatible with mac (including phones), android, and PC. For phones, you can find it directly in the app store. They also have a second app called AVG Cleaner that helps clear out duplicate files and clutter, which is clutch for people like us who never seem to have enough storage room on our phones. 

PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER

You're probably more familiar with using antivirus scanning software on your computer. Nevertheless, if you don't currently have protection, it is time to beef up your security before hitting the coffee shop wifi or god forbid, the airport. We use AVG to protect our computers because, in addition to its new clean 2017 look, it comes very highly rated. They have a FREE trial which is great for checking if your computer is ok and getting some minimal protection. Gals that own businesses or have super-sensitive files may want to splurge for one of their paid options. Either way, some amount of security will give you serious peace of mind!

This post was sponsored by AVG Antivirus - but note that JUGS only accepts sponsorships from mission-aligned brands that meet our core values of compassion + fulfillment.