5 Major Security Threats for Mobile Devices

The prevalence and widespread use of mobile devices has fundamentally altered the fabric of our society. Within one generation, we have transitioned from households with one shared desktop at most to an era where one person could easily own and use 5-10 mobile devices daily. That's not even considering the expanding Internet of Things (IoT); IoT devices like smart refrigerators and even smart mirrors exponentially increase the quantity of internet-connected devices.

With that rapid increase has come to a corresponding increase in the amount of sensitive data and personal information that is either stored on or made available to those devices. Given the data's value for cybercriminals, it's no wonder we have also experienced an explosion in cybercrime and security threats for mobile devices.

Effects on Small Businesses

As a small business owner, why is this important to you? Aside from the fact that none of us want to see you fall victim to the theft of your own personal information, you have a unique set of risks that your business exposes you to. Even in the unlikely circumstance that you don't directly use at least one mobile device in any facet of your small business operations, can you be sure that no sensitive business information passes through or is stored on your personal mobile devices? What about the mobile devices of your employees?

The reality is that you are responsible for the security of the sensitive data belonging to your customers, employees, and even your third-party vendors that you come into possession of through the course of your business operations. Protecting that data should be a central tenet of your security posture and business plan. That means focusing on cybersecurity, from building a site that generates leads to offering public wifi or purchasing mobile phones for staff members.

Top 5 Mobile Device Security Threats

Nearly every tactic cybercriminals use to gain access to traditional computers can be modified to pose security threats to mobile devices. Some techniques can even be used outright with no changes at all. Then there are many threats specific to these devices, like malicious apps. We'll outline the top 5 most dangerous and common mobile device threats.

Security Threats from Mobile Apps

Mobile applications can be some of the most useful tools that come from mobile devices. They can also be the most dangerous when protecting sensitive data and personal information. The specific threats may vary depending on the manufacturer and operating system of your mobile phone or device. Still, malicious applications, poorly designed apps, and even imitation app stores can all play host to various security concerns.

Madware is a type of adware that has been altered to target mobile devices. With malicious apps or poor security controls, spyware like madware is the best you can hope for. Trackers and scanners can reveal location data, proprietary information, and even the contents of stored notes on your phone. Mobile ransomware has seen a rapid uptick in popularity. That can pose a particular concern if you're operating your business from a mobile device that suddenly becomes unusable due to a ransomware attack.

The best way to protect against application threats is to use authorized app stores and implement mobile application management software. That allows IT personnel to manage business applications without affecting the employee's personal information or apps.

Man in the Middle Attacks

The increasing trend of remote work has made a workforce more vulnerable to mobile network security threats such as man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks than ever before. By standing up a fraudulent public Wi-Fi network and spoofing security certificates, bad actors can intercept every data flowing through that network. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are not even a failsafe way to access public Wi-Fi networks as they still may allow some information to be gleaned by the attackers.

To best avoid attackers using MitM strategies, you should tell your employees not to use public or unsecured wifi networks when conducting any work-related activity. To prevent the temptation, it may be beneficial to issue mobile hotspots to your employees in addition to the VPNs that they should already be using so that they can complete their work in any location where they have cell service.

Phishing Scam and Other Social Engineering Attacks

While phishing is most commonly thought of as an email containing a malicious link or attachment, that is nowhere near the most common method used when criminals are attempting to use a mobile device as their access point. Smishing and vishing use SMS messaging and voice-over IP phone calls to convince victims to either click a malicious link or take other actions beneficial to the attackers.

As always, the best way to combat social engineering scams, in general, is education. Meaningful and regular training that presents your personnel with exactly what they can expect to see from a phishing attack and guides them through the appropriate response. Frequent reminders, updates, and tests help solidify cybersecurity's importance in their minds.

Jailbroken Devices and Operating System Updates

Jailbroken or rooted devices refer to mobile devices with administrator rights compromised. This allows access much deeper into the device's operating system and allows changes to system applications and the installation of third-party app stores and applications. While operating system vulnerabilities can be exploited to obtain root access if the OS is left unpatched or the user fails to install necessary updates, some users will even do the work for the cyber attackers because of the increased freedom of customization that jailbreaking allows.

It goes without saying that you should prohibit all staff from jailbreaking any device used for work. Furthermore, ensuring that system and operating system updates are regularly checked for and installed is essential to thwarting these security threats for mobile devices.

Weak Passwords and Stolen Devices

Password hygiene is often overlooked for as serious as it is and as simple as the solution can be. Myriad free and paid password vaults can generate secure passwords for every login credential your employees need. Implementing multifactor authentication further enhances your security posture, and these steps further protect your sensitive data should you lose a mobile device or have one stolen. It's also a good time to ensure that all of your devices have password protection in place in addition to work applications and systems.s

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