{"id":50888,"date":"2016-06-28T06:00:52","date_gmt":"2016-06-28T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=50888"},"modified":"2025-08-06T22:58:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T05:58:58","slug":"mobile-popup-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mobile-security\/mobile-popup-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile Pop-Ups, Digital Spam with a Side of Dangerous"},"content":{"rendered":"

Technology has become the personal assistant of our dreams, but also the crutch for our brains that we\u2019ve grown increasingly reliant upon. There\u2019s a seemingly unending supply of random information and factoids that you can glean from the web (did you know Scotland\u2019s national animal is a unicorn?). We have information at our fingertips like never before, but don\u2019t forget that your go-to resource also has potential to be seriously scary.<\/p>\n

For example, you\u2019re doing some research on that well-deserved summer vacation when suddenly a message for cheap travel to Bali pops onto your screen. Bali? Yes, please! The water is clear and the sand is white\u2014the vacation of your dreams is just one click away. You can taste the pi\u00f1a colada now\u2026 but, whoa. Stop right there! Do you know what could be hidden behind these tempting offers? What\u2019s lurking in the background?<\/p>\n

You could be walking directly into a nasty cybercrime malvertisement\u2014ads that aim to infect devices with various forms of malware<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I mean, let\u2019s not pretend ads are things we can easily avoid. Online advertising is a booming business that is steadily rivaling traditional marketing. And with all of that content filling our feeds, inboxes, and screens, it makes it hard to differentiate between the good and the bad. One accidental click on your mobile device could launch a nasty virus, effectively handing control over to criminals quicker than you can say \u201cViva La Vacation!\u201d<\/p>\n

Sure, there are multitudes of ads that are safe, but you can never be too careful when clicking. So what should you do to protect yourself and better yet, what are the signs that you may have already been a victim?<\/p>\n

Seeing lots of pop-ups on your phone? This could be a sign that your device has already been infected. If you notice an influx of shady looking ads, head to our Knowledge Center<\/a> and get your study on. Don\u2019t worry, we have your back.<\/p>\n

Tips to Improve Your Mobile Security<\/h2>\n

Malicious pop-ups are a no joke threat. As always with mobile security, the best defense is a good offense. Follow these tips:<\/p>\n