Top Mobile Security Threats Of Digital Era
Remember the days when the greatest security risk was present only on your computer? The spyware and virus has been a big threat that silently monitors user actions and steal personal data. You can also have a memory when a virus damaged your computer system.
This attack scenario has not changed at all, but since mobile phones and tablets are used more frequently than before, cyber-criminals are focusing more on mobile devices as a result mobile security threats are looming.
Protecting mobile devices goes beyond simple antivirus software. It’s more with the improvement of their mobile security practices.
To help you think about the safety of your privacy, here are top ten dangers that can affect mobile security.
What are mobile security threats?
People often view mobile security risks as an omnipresent threat. However, the truth is that there are several security threats for mobile devices that you should know about. These include physical, application-based, network threats, and web-based threats.
How do they work?
Application-based threats occur when users download applications that look real, but actually analyze the data from their devices. Some examples are spyware and malware that steal personal and business information without knowing what is happening.
Web threats are subtle and generally not interested in anyone. They occur when people visit affected sites that look good in the front, but actually download harmful items to the devices.
Network threats are especially serious because cyber-criminals can steal unencrypted data when users use the public WLAN.
Physical hazards occur when someone loses or steals your mobile device. Hackers with direct access to hardware, in which private data is stored or accessed, this danger is particularly dangerous for businesses.
Here are the combinations of these types of associated risks, as follows.
Data Leakage: Data leakage can be widely seen as being one of the most daunting threats to enterprise security. Various Mobile devices and applications are often the main cause of unintentional data leakage. Users generally installs apps without knowing their associated security risks, giving permissions to access device storage, contacts and all other access, but don’t always check security. These apps are generally free apps found in official app stores. These apps may send your personal and potentially corporate data to a remote server, where it can be used by cyber-criminals.
Adware and Spyware: Mobile Adware is a script or program installed on your mobile generally without your consent. It collects device’s personal data for the purpose of showing you with the relevant ads. A spyware also collects your device’s data based on your internet usage and transmits it to a remote server. The data is than misused by cyber-criminals or used by companies to target you with advertisements. Furthermore, it also collects data about your location, storage, contacts and internet usage. Android or iOS, no one is safe from these mobile malware and threats. So all this creates a privacy and mobile security risk overall.
Viruses and Trojans: These may come attached with some programs or applications appear to be legitimate, in actual they are not. They can mine your device data and can steal your confidential data such as banking related information etc. Whether android or iOS, this is the threat targeting all mobile devices.
Wi-Fi interference: A mobile device can be treated as secure as long as it’s using the network through which it transmits data. At this time where we all are constantly connecting to and using public Wi-Fi networks available at airports, college etc.. That means our information is not as much secure as we might assume.
Drive-by downloads: Drive-by download refers to the unintentional download of malicious program or code to your mobile device. If you click on any link or visit any website serving malware, there is a high risk that you might be exposed to a drive-by download attack that automatically installs a malicious file on your mobile device.
Unencrypted communication: In the modern era, the biggest threat is to your digital data. In this digital age we share everything electronically. We use Email, Skype, messenger and chatting apps etc, if our data is not sent in encrypted format then it is at a perpetual threat.
IoT related threats: Most of the mobile devices in an IoT and having an IP address, using which they connect to the internet. Hackers and cyber-criminals can very easily mine out the IP addresses and data of your devices and sneak into your corporate network.
Phishing Attacks: Mobile device owners may fall victims of text message phishing scams and other email based phishing scams. As mobiles devices are always powered-on they are often the first to receive phishing emails and messages.
Lost or stolen device: Losing access to a mobile device like laptop, mobile or tablet gives a direct access to a hacker or cyber-criminal to your device and data. So this is the biggest risk associated with the mobile security.
