By Editor
There is little doubt that smartphones have become
a central part of our lives, allowing us to perform all sorts of tasks that
make our everyday existence easier and more enjoyable.
But while they aim to heighten convenience, there
is a real feeling that smartphones are becoming a bigger target for
cybercriminals.
So why are criminals so eager to get into our
devices?
1. A smartphone knows everything about us
The amount of information stored on a smartphone
has skyrocketed in recent years.
The connectivity of apps means we supply nearly
every piece of information about ourselves, whether it’s our bank account
details or our preferred taste in pizza.
For a cybercriminal potentially wanting to commit
identity theft, a smartphone is a goldmine.
2. It’s a way into companies and other organizations
The use of bring your own device (BYOD) has become
one of the most prominent trends for companies around the globe.
Research published in 2015 found that 74% of companies had either adopted or planned to roll
out BYOD, with the market set to exceed $350 billion by 2022.
Cybercriminals are viewing these devices as an
ideal gateway into stealing valuable corporate information.
3. Security can be lax
The rise of BYOD has also caused plenty of
headaches for a number of companies in various industries, mainly due to
difficulties in rolling out a unified approach to security.
In a recent Tech Pro Research survey of CIOs, tech executives and IT
workers, 45% of respondents said mobile devices posed the greatest risk to a
company’s infrastructure, with the fragmented nature of some mobile platforms
cited as a primary reason.
4. Autofill has become our best friend
One of the reasons our phones are carrying more
personal information than ever before is primarily down to our desire for
convenience.
With our devices now handling a myriad of services
and subsequent apps, we find ourselves with a larger number login details than
ever before.
As a result, it’s ‘easy to get lazy’. Many of us
decide to make use of various autofill systems, which, in turn, sometimes amounts to a security risk.
5. It’s a route into your wallet
Our phones can be used to transfer money, pay our
bills, and are even being used as a method of payment.
Google Wallet, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay are all
pushing mobile payments into the mainstream, and some experts expect it to be a
trend that will continue over the next few years.
Of course, the only drawback is that they are
likely to catch the attention of cybercriminals.
6. Phones know where you are and where you work
In many circumstances, the reasons behind tracking
your device are entirely innocent, such as helping you get the most out of your
data and your apps.
For example, if you’re out and about, you can check
out restaurant or business recommendations with just a couple of swipes.
However, hacking a device’s GPS capabilities is not
seen as a difficult task, with many gamers using it to cheat at the popular
augmented reality game Pokemon Go In the hands of criminals, a compromised GPS
could be an unnerving prospect.
7. Bluetooth
For several years now, Bluetooth has been a regular
feature on smartphones and other mobile devices. Yet, like GPS, it is still
seen as a potential entry point for cybercriminals.
The effects of such an attack can result in
Bluesnarfing – where a phone’s private information is compromised, or
Bluebugging, which allows a criminal to more or less take complete control of
your phone.
But while there is a risk, these methods are
becoming increasingly harder for hackers to exploit.
8. Some scams are specific to mobile
There are several well-known ways in which
cybercriminals can use your smartphone to make quick cash.
In countries like China, for example, malware can
be used to access devices and force them to call premium numbers that charge
large amounts
These scams are not only potentially lucrative, but
can also spread across large numbers of devices.
9. They’re a great way of sending spam
Everyone hates spam. Well, apart from
cybercriminals, anyway.
There are a number of reasons why a criminal would
want to send spam, but many of them see smartphones as the ideal platform for
sending these communications.
This is mainly because it is much harder for
service providers to track down and block offenders.
10. Users are ignorant about the dangers
Many of the most seasoned tech users are now well
acquainted with best practice when it comes to using laptops or desktops, but
smartphones often slip down the list of priorities.
Which, in some ways is surprising, given that
smartphones have increasingly been targeted since as early as 2005.
However, as the threat is more visible than ever,
we’re slowly beginning to understand that security matters. Let’s treat them
with the importance they deserve.