Mobile presents significant intrusion risk

 

Actively combating cybercrime is a necessity for modern businesses. Effective strategic planning is needed to combat the risk, especially as threats are constantly evolving.

While there have been several high-profile data intrusions of late – the most notable afflicted upon Sony Pictures Entertainment – mobile is a platform that continues to present issues, albeit on a perceived smaller scale.

Mobile cyberattacks on the rise

The rise of the smartphone and tablet has led to every 1-in-4 cyberattacks now affecting mobile devices, according to research from Alcatel Lucent. While the overall infection rate is at a seemingly miserly 0.68 per cent, that accounts for a total of 16 million devices across the globe.

The simple fact is that consumers and businesses alike are not taking mobile security seriously enough. Even those who are more savvy may come under attack from increasingly complex malware – with attackers becoming proficient at compromising mobile systems.

Businesses need to be aware of threats

From the business perspective, enterprises should think twice about the security of any bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. BYOD schemes can aid strategy execution – as mobile gadgets allow for more flexibility away from the office and enable employees to easily amend projects on-the-fly.

However, being aware of mobile and how the platform interacts with critical business systems should be at the forefront of the minds of companies in light of this latest data.

By the end of this year, the number of smartphones in the hands of consumers will be close to 2 billion, according to technology insights firm Gartner.

That figure ultimately accounts for one in every four people on the planet having access to such a device, meaning malware that targets mobile is likely to become an even bigger threat in the future.