If you're an Android user, you should also be aware that your platform is the most creators, according to a recent report from security firm McAfee. That's hardly a surprise given the open approach Google takes to apps on Google Play as well as the fact that Android is the largest smartphone platform in the world.

One popular trick is to create an app that looks like a more popular program such as Angry Birds and bundle that fake app with malicious software. Lookout in late 2011 uncovered just such a scam in Google Play used for ; however, that scam affected users in Europe and parts of Western Asia, not North America.

Mobile security threats are apparently on the rise, and this trend is bound to grow as more people turn to using smartphones and tablets in their everyday lives. For now, however, it appears the best approach for North American users to practice mobile security is to be wary of what you download and the links that you click on.

Make sure you're downloading genuine apps and not imitations from app stores such as Google Play or GetJar. Signs to look for in trusted apps include a large number of good user reviews written in coherent English, a link to the app developer's website to see if the app is actively supported, and the number of users an app has. 

Beyond apps, just as on a PC, never click on a Web link purporting to be from a bank or other financial institution, especially if that link comes to you via SMS.