How can we stay safe in the digital environment?

Digital transformation creates a new living space, known as cyberspace or the digital environment. Life has been moving into the digital environment faster than the legal system and law enforcement agencies, and therefore, the risks are significant. Fortunately, the whole world is facing these challenges together, and countries are perfecting their legal systems in the digital environment. We can learn from them. For example, regarding personal data protection, Europe has enacted laws that are considered standard by many countries; large social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Google are also regulated by countries through laws on digital markets and services. Vietnam is also learning to improve its institutions and systems in the digital environment.

But we will always have to face risks in the digital environment. Besides regulations, each of us must equip ourselves with digital skills to live safely in the digital environment. Accidents and cybersecurity incidents will still happen, but that's also how the digital environment becomes safer. Since there can't be zero risk, the approach will be risk management, minimizing risk, and when risk does occur, the ability to recover is paramount.

Vietnam must prosper in cyberspace; therefore, Vietnam must become a cybersecurity powerhouse to protect its prosperity in cyberspace. A cybersecurity powerhouse is just as powerful a military powerhouse in the real world.

Each individual should consciously protect themselves in the digital environment as they would in the physical world, protecting their intangible assets, such as personal information, just as they would other tangible assets. The smartphone has now become an indispensable item for many people and is therefore their biggest vulnerability.

How have smartphones become spies?

Smartphones are packed with features, including cameras, microphones, location services, wireless connectivity, and many more. Unfortunately, privacy and security aren't top priorities for most manufacturers, who focus more on convenience and affordability to remain competitive.

All of that has made smartphones incredibly ideal devices for tracking, eavesdropping, location tracking, obtaining private data, and even impersonating others to send messages to other phones.

If someone has control over your smartphone, they may understand you better than you understand yourself.

How do hackers gain access to smartphones?

There are many methods, ranging from easy to difficult, used by hackers. The easiest, requiring no technological expertise, only deceptive tricks and impersonation. Hackers can collect publicly available information online, such as from social media and the internet, to create fraudulent content with credible information tailored to each individual, often preying on their personal desires.

At a more advanced level, hackers can create software, which may be malware, or malware disguised as a regular application, such as a video or music player, to trick users into installing and using it.

At a more advanced level, professional hackers exploit vulnerabilities and weaknesses in phones or legitimate applications to gain unauthorized access.

What are the signs that a smartphone has been hacked?

Phones often overheat even when not in use, and the battery drains quickly or its lifespan decreases despite minimal app use. This is because malware running in the background consumes phone resources to scan the device and transmit information back to the hacker's control server.

Your phone suddenly freezes frequently, pauses, or apps shut down unexpectedly; sometimes the phone even restarts. This could be due to malware overloading resources or conflicting with other applications.

If monthly data usage exceeds needs or suddenly spikes, it can lead to higher data charges.

This could be because data from the computer is being transferred to the hacker's control server via a network connection.

A strange app suddenly appeared, one I didn't install; it could very well be malware or spyware.

Why is online safety as simple as washing your hands with soap?

With the right awareness and habits, each person can protect themselves, reducing risks by up to 80%; the remaining 20% ​​can only be threatened by professional attackers who invest significant resources.

Everyone should understand the applications they have installed on their smartphone as well as they understand their own bodies. Smartphones allow users to control and grant appropriate permissions to each application according to their functional needs. You should delete applications you don't use and grant permissions to the applications you need appropriately. For example, the "Perpetual Calendar" application doesn't need access to your Contacts or Location; you don't need to grant it those permissions.

Only install apps from official stores, the Apple Store for iPhones and the Google Play Store for Android phones. Minimize installing apps from unknown or unreliable sources.

Set strong passwords for your phone and apps, and always keep your operating system and apps updated to the latest version.

Install security apps on your smartphone; it's like adding extra locks to your assets. Vietnam has some very good apps, such as smartphone security software from BKAV, CMC, or Viettel.

If something goes wrong, who should I ask?

Please contact the National Cybersecurity Monitoring Center, Department of Information Security, Ministry of Information and Communications for advice and support.

Online address for advice and support for citizens: https://khonggianmang.vn/