If you think there's like a million apps out there, that's not exactly an exaggeration. For sure, there are more than you can imagine, which makes it easy to conceive that many certainly come with security problems.

In fact, out of the top 25 most popular apps, 18 of them bombed on a security test from McAfee Labs recently.

Creators of apps put convenience and allure ahead of security. This is why so many apps don't have secure connections—creating welcome mats for hackers; they get into your smartphone and get your passwords, usernames and other sensitive information.

Joe Hacker knows all about this pervasive weakness in the app world. You can count on hackers using tool kits to aid in their quest to hack into your mobile device. The tool kit approach is called a man-in-the-middle attack.

The "man" gets your passwords, credit card number, Facebook login information, etc. Once the hacker gets all this information, he could do just about anything, including obtaining a credit line in your name and maxing it out, or altering your Facebook information.

You probably didn't know that smartphone hacks are becoming increasingly widespread.

So what can you do?

• Stay current – Know that mobile malware is growing and is transmitted via malicious apps.
• Do your homework – Research apps, read reviews, and check app ratings before you download.
• Check your sources – Only download apps from well-known, reputable app stores.
• Watch the permissions – Check what info each app is accessing on your mobile devices and make sure you are comfortable with that.
• Protect your phone – Install comprehensive security on your mobile devices to keep them protected from harmful apps.

Robert Siciliano is an Online Safety Expert to Intel Security. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked!