Nowadays, mobile devices have become an integral part of people’s daily life. Many people check their phones several times daily for business, social media, gaming, driving navigation, and other activities.
The increasing reliance on mobile phones is connected to the growing capabilities of smartphones and the rising number of applications. Google Play Store offers around 3.48 million apps for Android users. Meanwhile, Apple App Store provides access to about 2.22 million apps for iOS users. Before, a mobile phone’s usability was limited to texting, calling, taking photos, and playing simple games, but today, the possibilities are endless.
With this rising dependence on smartphones also comes the increase of security threats, as multiple account takeovers and SIM swapping attacks have been recorded over the years. Mobile threats and scams are becoming more sophisticated, putting organizations at risk as members use mobile phones for various functions.
One example of mobile security threat is network spoofing, wherein cybercriminals create a fake access point and pose it s a legitimate network. They lure people into believing that these access points are trustworthy networks, and when they connect to them, the hacker can gain access to information transmitted across the web.
Another mobile security threat is a phishing attack that uses a disguised digital message to steal user data. The message includes links that redirect the user to a form where they should input their username, password, and other information. Some of the primary targets of phishing attacks are the user’s login credentials, passwords, and credit card numbers. As one of the primary targets of phishing attacks is passwords, integrating a passwordless authentication solution can help eliminate the risk of phishing attacks.
There are other mobile threats that users need to be aware of, such as spyware, mobile account takeover, and poor phone security. Mobile phones have become more indispensable in accessing systems and completing everyday tasks, which is why more criminals target mobile phones and target their vulnerabilities for their gain.
Fortunately, new ways are being developed to reduce risks and threats to mobile phone usage. One game-changer to this goal is the FIDO2 or Fast Identity Online protocol, which aims to eliminate the use of passwords online and remove the weaknesses that it creates. It serves as a standard for mobile identity verification and building a secure passwordless authentication online.
To learn more, here is an infographic from Login ID discussing mobile security threats and how to prevent them.
