<p style="text-align: justify;">If you have a smart phone or other mobile device, you probably use apps. In fact, apps can be so much fun and so convenient too.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">What are mobile apps?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Mobile apps are software programs you can download and access directly using your phone or another mobile device like a tablet or music player.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">What do I need to download and use an app?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">You need a smart phone, a tablet or another mobile device with internet access. Not all apps work on all mobile devices. Once you buy a device, you&rsquo;re committed to using the operating system and the type of apps that go with it. The Android, Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry mobile operating systems have app stores online where you can look for, download and install apps. Some online retailers also offer app stores.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Why are some apps free? &nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Some apps are offered free in basic versions. Their developers hope you&rsquo;ll like the app enough to upgrade to a paid version with more features, also, some apps are offered free to interest you in a company&rsquo;s other products. These apps are a Form of advertising.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Why does the app I downloaded have ads in it?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Developers want to provide their apps as inexpensively as possible so lots of people will use them. &nbsp;If they sell advertising space in the app in addition to making money from selling the app, they can offer the app for a lower cost than if it didn&rsquo;t have ads. Some developers sell space in their apps to ad networks that, in turn, sell the space to advertisers.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Should I update my apps?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Your phone may indicate when updates are available for your apps. It&rsquo;s a good idea to update the apps you&rsquo;ve installed on your device and the device&rsquo;s operating system when new versions are available. Updates often have security patches that protect your information and your device from the latest malware. App updates also may include additional features.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Could an app infect my phone with malware?</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Some hackers have created apps that can infect phones and mobile devices with malware. If your phone sends email or text messages that you didn&rsquo;t write, or installs apps that you didn&rsquo;t download, those could be signs of malware. &nbsp;If you think you may have malware on your device, you have a few options. You can contact customer support for the company that made it; you can contact your mobile phone carrier for help; or you can install a security app to scan and remove apps if it detects malware.</p>