News Analysis: Smartphone and tablet security is a hot-button issue right now, but unfortunately, not enough people know what's going on. Here are some assumptions to make about security on these devices to avoid being victimized.
It
wasn't long ago that Symbian was the only mobile software dealing with an
inordinate number of security problems, due to its popularity. But now that
Android and iOS have started to dominate the marketplace, the number of mobile
threats impacting consumers and enterprise users around the globe has
skyrocketed. What's worse, the threats mobile device users face are
becoming more sophisticated by the day, which is also increasing the amount
a damage and cost of a mobile device security breach.
But
even with those troubles, consumers and even some corporate IT executives don't
seem to be all that knowledgeable about the threats they face. Mobile security
woes are still in their infancy, and the vast majority of consumers and
enterprise users place much of their focus on the desktop, where spam, phishing
scams and malware have been a part of their lives for years.
The
time has come, however, for mobile device users to shift their focus.
Cyber-criminals around the world are turning to smartphones and tablets to
exploit personal information for their own gain. And they will stop at nothing
to achieve their goals. Therefore, the only defense is knowledge and vigilance.
Read
on to find out about the many important things to know related to smartphone
and tablet security.
1. Android is a nightmare
Android
is quickly becoming the top destination for cyber-criminals for two main
reasons: It's popular and there aren't enough checks in place to safeguard the
operating system. In fact, adding an application to the Android Market is as
simple as signing up as a developer and making it available. Before Google has
a chance to remove a bad app, tens of thousands of devices could be infected.
It's a serious problem.
2. The threats are on the rise
Mobile
security threats are getting worse. Android malware samples alone are up 472
percent in the second half of this year. What's more, cyber-criminals are also
targeting iOS, Symbian and other operating systems. Malware creators are seeing
real opportunities on the mobile front, and it's time we acknowledge that.
3. Apps can be a problem
As
noted,
Android applications can be filled with security problems. But it's not
just Android. Even iOS- and BlackBerry-based applications can cause security
issues if they're improperly protected or include links to malicious Websites.
As the popularity of mobile applications continues to soar, expect security
woes to increase with it.
4. Users are making themselves insecure
Mobile
device users are partly to blame for the security woes impacting the globe
right now. Consumers are surfing to unsafe sites, downloading applications
without verifying their sources, and generally engaging in behavior that
exposes them to malware and fraud. It's about time they start thinking about
security first-and smartphone fun second.
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