Many people have a cell phone in today’s world, using it to speak to clients, friends, and family as well as send emails, check their bank account, and play games using various apps. With mobile device security threats on the rise, your top priority should be mobile security. Pittsburgh business owners who use mobile devices can rely on CMIT Solutions to help them keep their data safe.
Here are some of the top security risks you can experience from your cell phone:
It is tempting to use a wireless hot spot rather than use up your cellular data, but in many cases, free Wi-Fi networks are unsecured and are easily accessed by hackers. It is best only to use free Wi-Fi sparingly and to avoid using it to access any of your confidential or personal services such as credit card or banking information.
There is a mobile app for almost everything, with many of these apps being free and requiring the user to grant them broad permissions, but do not always check security. These “riskware” apps are usually found in official app stores and perform as advertised. The issues with these apps are that they send personal and, in some cases, corporate data to a remote server that can be accessed by cybercriminals and mined for data by advertisers.
When downloading an app, be sure you are only giving the app permissions that are absolutely necessary to function properly. This can help prevent your data from being leaked.
Common Mobile Security Threats
Mobile devices are almost always on, making them a target for phishing attacks. Mobile users monitor things like their email, opening, and reading new emails as they receive them. Mobile users are also more vulnerable to phishing scams because the email app only displays a limited amount of information due to screen size. You may open an email and only see the sender’s name unless you take the time to expand the header bar to see more information.
To keep yourself safe from phishing when checking email on your mobile device, avoid clicking on unfamiliar email links, and if the matter is not pressing, wait to respond to your emails until you can access your email via computer.
Network spoofing is when hackers set up fake access points or connections that appear to be Wi-Fi networks but are actually traps. They commonly set these up in high-traffic public locations such as libraries, coffee shops, and airports. The hackers will give these access points common names like “Free Airport Wi-Fi to encourage mobile users to connect.
To steal your information, in some cases, cybercriminals will require the user to create an account and password to use the free Wi-Fi. Since many people use the same email and password combination for multiple accounts, the hackers are able to use this information to access users’ e-commerce, emails, and other secure information such as banking information.
In addition to being cautious of the Wi-Fi networks you connect to, you should also avoid providing any personal information for “free Wi-Fi.” Also, remember that when you are asked to create a login for any application or Wi-Fi network, make sure you always create a new and unique password.
To help make access to mobile device transactions easier, many apps use tokens. These allow users to perform multiple actions without having to re-authenticate their identity for each action. Similar to your password, tokens are generated by the app to identify and validate your device. When it comes to secure apps, they will generate new tokens with every access attempt or session. These tokens should remain confidential, but that is not always the case. Secure apps generate new tokens with each access attempt, or “session,” and should remain confidential.
Improper session handling refers to when the application unintentionally shares the session tokens. This can lead to hackers using the information to impersonate legitimate users. In many cases, this occurs due to the session remaining open after the user has navigated away from the app. This is why it is important to log out when you are finished to close the session.
While malware is a threat that users should be aware of, spyware, also known as stalkerware, that is installed by coworkers, employers, or spouses is an even bigger threat when it comes to mobile devices Spyware allows the installer to keep track of your whereabouts and activity.
Many of the spyware apps are designed to be loaded onto the target’s device without their knowledge of the app or their permission to install it. You will need a comprehensive malware detection and antivirus suite that uses a specialized scanning technique for this type of program.
Tips for Protecting Yourself Against Mobile Security Threats
As technology advances, mobile device security threats will continue to evolve in scope ad increase in number. To continue to protect your devices and your data, it is important to understand the common mobile device threat and how you can prepare for the next wave of security attacks. We recommend that you have a robust internet security solution implemented to provide comprehensive coverage extending beyond just desktops and laptops, also protecting loT devices, mobile devices, and other Internet connection points. You also need to make sure your personal network and devices are protected while using them when you are not home.