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So you've got all your anti-virus software on your computer and you never miss an update. Finally, you think you're ahead of the game and have got to grips with how to keep yourself safe online. The only way anyone's going to get all your information now is if they steal your smartphone, which never leaves your side.

Unfortunately, just because it has the word 'phone' in the title, it doesn't mean it's not susceptible to viruses. They're still computers that can be hacked, potentially leaving users with extortionate phone bills or a loss of personal data.

Although smartphones already have their own default anti-virus settings, hackers constantly develop malware to get around such obstacles, so our security may need to step up a notch.

The says that as the market for smartphones has grown, so too has the number of viruses, and security firm Symantec reports they've found six varieties of malicious software launched on Android phones.

The campaign - a joint initiative between the police, government and industry - hopes to raise awareness of the risks around downloading apps. Criminals, it says, are developing Trojan copies of existing apps which trick users into downloading them and then run in the back-end of the phone without the user knowing. Typically these viruses send premium rate text messages to scammers, with some cases showing they were sent every minute.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s technology correspondent Mark Ward advises that although most apps are vetted before a user can install them, it doesn't necessarily provide bullet-proof protection. He also suggests that when downloading an app, be sure to check it's from a legitimate source and keep an eye out for battery life. If it's lower than usual, it could be a sign that an application is running without you knowing.

It's quite normal for apps to ask for access to certain information (like your location), so don't see this as a sign that the app is a virus, but do make sure you're happy for it to have that data.

Extra anti-virus software for smartphones has already been developed and if you're a bit of an app-holic, it might be an idea to investigate what's out there. But when downloading these, the same safety rules apply.

Get tips from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ WebWise on how you can protect yourself against computer viruses.