Like the MP3 revolution before it, however, eBook downloads provide prime entry points for viruses, malware, and other threats. The fact that eBook readers are able to download and read multiple types of files beyond the official DRM-protected eBooks sold by major retailers -- they're able to read a pirated PDF copy of the Hunger Games trilogy just as quickly as they read Amazon's AZW formats -- provides another point of entry for malware manufacturers. You're very unlikely to get a virus by purchasing eBooks from Barnes and Noble or Amazon, but much more likely if you're the type of person who hunts down pirated and "open source" versions.
The newest threat to eReader viruses doesn't come from the books itself; it comes from the fact that new eReaders, such as Amazon's Kindle Fire HD, are nearly identical to tablet computers. You can check your email, update Facebook, and watch your favorite TV shows on these new eReaders, which means you have opportunities to introduce viruses into your eReaders with every click.
The Kindle Fire HD is one of the top items on many people's gift lists this holiday season, which means that you need to think about the gift of network security in addition to all the books and television shows you plan to stream and share. In addition to the usual methods of virus and threat transmission -- malware-laden downloads, untrustworthy phishing links, spammers -- you now have a new threat: cell phone hackers. Yes, there are people out there who specifically hack your phone to run up bogus charges to toll numbers and then keep the toll money you pay on your phone bill, and the Kindle Fire HD, which runs on cell connectivity, provides one more avenue through which this type of hack can happen.
To quote Digital Media Mom, in her article about Kindles and potential hacks: "If you’re getting a Kindle Fire HDX 4G LTE, or already own a Kindle Fire HD 4G LTE with a cell service subscription, plan on getting some kind of security app for it."
The type of security you end up getting will depend on how you plan to use your Kindle or your other network-connected eReader. Do you ever plan to check your work email from your eReader? Conduct business from its browsers? Remember that everything is now connected, and a file you download into Google Docs can affect both your eReader as well as any other computer with which you use your Google login.
These days, a simple antivirus program is not enough. You need a targeted program like Deep Discovery or one of its peers, a program that protects against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). According to Trend Micro, new network protection standards require protection from identity theft, phishing, malware downloads, and APTs. And, now that your eReaders are connected to every other computer you own and use, you need this type of protection for your eReaders as well.
The next time you download an eBook, do it with the knowledge that your eReader is well protected against all forms of viruses and threats. As eReader technology continues to evolve, be ready to update your security systems so that you'll always be protected, no matter what new types of hacks and threats develop. Then you can focus your attention where it really matters: on that book you just downloaded, the one you've always wanted to read.
Author Bio
Devin is an Search Marketing expert and professional in backlink outreach/acquisition. Devin began his career in SEO while in college and now helps SEO agencies and in-house marketing teams scale their outreach and publishing campaigns by leveraging his knowledge of the industry. You can find Devin on twitter @dmak_11, LinkedIn, or Google+.
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