Hackers have been targeting mobile devices for a long time. Why do hackers target mobile devices? We explained why that is and how to prevent them.
Since the pandemic began, the incidence of cyberattacks against remote workers has almost doubled. Employees were quickly immersed in a world of remote work, employing a range of cloud-based tools and apps.
Due to the urgency with which enterprises must react, many firms have been left unprepared in terms of cybersecurity protection.
Businesses may be unaware that their weakest link is frequently their mobile security. A cybercriminal only has to compromise one unsecured mobile device to obtain access to an organization’s entire network (phone, laptop, or tablet).
One Device Is All That Is Required to Gain Access to Your Company’s Network
Intrusions may be extremely bad for the company. The consequences can be severe, including rapid cost increases, interruption of operations, jeopardization of critical data assets, and deterioration of customer relationships.
In actuality, approximately 60% of small businesses that are injured by cyber-attacks are unable to recover and close their doors within six months.
While employee mobility has revolutionized the way we do business, it has also presented new security risks. On average, mobile users spend over 80% of their time outside of the secured corporate network, connecting to the internet from areas other than the office or company sites.
With growing mobility, far too many devices become exposed to more sophisticated hacking tactics — all the more so when company IT teams fail to provide mobile device security patches and upgrades.
Why Do Hackers Target Mobile Devices?
- A smartphone is fully aware of our every move.
The quantity of data saved on a smartphone has increased dramatically in recent years.
Because apps are connected, we provide practically every bit of information about ourselves, whether it’s our bank account information or our favourite pizza flavor.
- Hackers target mobile devices because a smartphone is a treasure for a cybercriminal interested in committing identity theft.
It’s a means of gaining access to businesses and other organizations.
Bring your own device (BYOD) has become a global trend for businesses.
According to 2015 research, 74% of businesses have either used or intended to implement BYOD, with the industry expected to hit $350 billion by 2022.
- Cybercriminals perceive these gadgets as a perfect entry point for obtaining sensitive company data.
Security measures might be lax.
The development of BYOD has also created a slew of issues for a variety of businesses across a variety of industries, mostly owing to the challenges inherent in implementing a uniform strategy to security.
According to a 2016 Tech Pro Research study of CIOs, technology executives, and IT professionals, 45% of respondents stated mobile devices constituted the greatest danger to a company’s infrastructure, citing the fragmented nature of some mobile platforms as a main cause.
- Autofill has proved a lifesaver.
One of the primary reasons our phones now contain more personal information than ever is our need for convenience.
With our smartphones now supporting a plethora of services and subsequent apps, we now have a greater number of login credentials than ever before.
As a result, it’s ‘easily to fall into a state of laziness.’ Many of us choose to utilize various autofill systems, which might occasionally pose a security issue.
- Hackers target mobile devices because it’s a way to gain access to your wallet.
Our phones may be used to send and receive money, pay bills, and even act as a form of payment.
Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay are all advancing mobile payments into the mainstream, and some analysts believe this trend will continue in the coming years.
Of course, the disadvantage is that they are more likely to attract hackers’ notice.
- Your phone is aware of your location and employment.
Oftentimes, the motivations for tracking your device are completely harmless, such as assisting you in getting the most out of your data and apps.
If you’re out and about, for instance, you may quickly check out restaurant or company recommendations with a couple of swipes.
However, hacking a device’s GPS capabilities is not considered difficult, as many gamers have done so to cheat in the popular augmented reality game Pokemon Go. A hacked GPS might be a frightening scenario in the hands of criminals.
- Bluetooth
Bluetooth has been a standard feature on smartphones and other mobile devices for some years. Nonetheless, similar to GPS, it is viewed as a possible entrance method for hacke
- Bluesnarfing – in which a phone’s sensitive information is compromised – or Bluebugging – in which a criminal gains entire control of your phone – can be the outcome of such an assault.
While there is a danger, these approaches are becoming increasingly difficult to exploit by hackers.
- Certain frauds are mobile-specific.
There are various well-known ways for hackers to profit from your smartphone.
In places like as China, malware may be used to get access to devices and coerce users into calling premium lines that demand exorbitant rates.
Not only are these frauds potentially lucrative, but they also have the ability to proliferate over a vast number of devices.
- They’re an excellent method of sending spam.
Everybody despises spam. Apart from hackers, that is.
There are a variety of reasons for a criminal to transmit spam, but many of them view cellphones as the optimal platform for doing so.
This is mostly due to the fact that it is considerably more difficult for service providers to hunt down and block violators.
- Users are unaware of the hazards.
Many of the most seasoned computer users are already well versed in best practices for laptops and desktops, but cellphones sometimes fall to the bottom of the priority list.
Which is unexpected in some respects, given that smartphones have been progressively targeted since 2005.
However, as the threat becomes more evident, we’re gradually realizing the importance of security. Let us accord them the respect they deserve.
How to Prevent Cyber Attacks on Mobile Devices
Simple techniques can help your organization secure itself in a variety of ways. Businesses may use a unified endpoint management (UEM) solution that enables IT to manage, protect, and deploy corporate resources and apps across all devices from a single console.
The first step toward unified endpoint management was mobile device management, followed by business mobility management. On the other hand, the mobile device management plan does not support BYOD, which enables employees to transition from personal to business usage of their devices at any time and from any location.
Another way is to do frequent cybersecurity awareness training on best practices. Rather than enforcing laws that impair employees’ ability to perform their tasks effectively, a well-designed staff awareness program should complement how people work.
The objective is to assist them in acquiring the required skills and information for employment, as well as to recognize when to raise concerns. Nobody is exempt from making errors or falling victim to a hoax.
Indeed, because top executives are seen to be more valuable targets, fraudsters are more likely to target them (for example, via corporate email infiltration tactics) as the information they offer is frequently believed to be the most valuable.
This is frequently why businesses prefer to deploy a secure communications platform to provide secure internal and external communication.
This solution enables professionals to conduct secure conversations and message threads with the security that their discussions are completely private. Salt Communications, for example, protects your company’s data from being compromised by assaults from outside your organization.
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