We\u2019ve all done it \u2013 tapped a link, realized it\u2019s not what we thought it was, and then wondered what damage it might cause to our phone.<\/p>\n
First of all, don\u2019t panic. You wouldn\u2019t be alone.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re bombarded with messages every day. Some genuine, some not. And it\u2019s getting harder and harder to spot the fakes.<\/p>\n
How do you keep your phone and its data safe after a tap you regret?<\/p>\n
There are two things to be aware of \u2013 malware, and people stealing your data.<\/p>\n
Malware is less of a problem on phones than on computers. But it can still be annoying or damaging.<\/p>\n
Check your phone for any new apps that have been downloaded and delete them.<\/p>\n
Monitor your phone for unusual behavior: Apps launching by themselves or the battery draining faster than usual.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re concerned, reset your phone and restore the last backup before you tapped the link.<\/p>\n
The bigger risk is the data you enter on a fake web page. This can give hackers access to your accounts.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re in any doubt, change your password on accounts that could be at risk. And set up multi-factor authentication, where you generate a login code on a separate device.<\/p>\n