Mobile security threats are serious cyber-attacks which can happen to anyone. These dangers are as significant as any personal computer attack, and businesses should prepare using preventative measures.
Study after study are illustrating the security vulnerabilities at play with mobile devices.
For example, a recent study showed that 39% of workers use personal mobile devices to access corporate data hosted on cloud systems. Alarmingly, this study revealed that the, ”remote workers surveyed did not have basic password protection on all personal devices.”
Trend Micro’s study discovered that 52% of global workers have internet of things (IoT) devices connected to their home network. These exposed home networks could give hackers easy access to your sensitive data on your laptop or backdoor access to company’s network.
According to Check Point’s Mobile Security Report 2021, “Nearly half of organizations impacted by malicious mobile apps: 46% of organizations had at least one employee download a malicious mobile application that threatened their organization’s networks and data in 2020”. While these numbers are eye-opening, it can be difficult to know what to look for.
Kaspersky Labs is known for their annual essential cybersecurity research reports. Here’s a breakdown of their top 7 mobile security threats to watch for: :
- Data leakage
This happens when users download apps, grant broad permissions, and forget to check security. These third-party apps then send personal and corporate information to a remote server that could be hacked.
- Unsecured Wi-Fi
Social media, payment centers and banking information are just some of the apps that are vulnerable to hacking through free and unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Network spoofing
This is when hackers setup a fake Wi-Fi network in high-traffic public areas, such as coffee shops and airports. The user is then required to create an “account” to access this free Wi-Fi network. It’s very common for users to provide the same email and password for multiple services. Hackers will use this information to compromise a user’s log-in information.
- Phishing attacks
Mobile devices make easy prey for phishing emails. Oftentimes, these types of email are more believable on a mobile device than on a desktop computer. This could be due to the smaller screen size or because people tend to be in a hurry when reading emails via their phone…
- Spyware
Spyware is a third-party software that keeps track of a mobile user’s whereabouts and activity. This software is loaded onto a mobile device without the user’s consent, or knowledge.
- Broken cryptography
Broken cryptography occurs when app developers create weak encryption algorithms with known vulnerabilities, to speed up the development process. It also happens when developers use secure encryption algorithms but leave the “back door” open. This allows hackers into the app without a password.
- Improper Session Handling
This occurs when apps don’t require users to re-authenticate their identity. Hackers may take advantage of this and impersonate legitimate users to access vital user information.
Ensuring that all of your devices are cybersecure can be stressful so be sure to get all the help you need to remain protected.
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