Cybersecurity: How the Lack of Mobile Device Protection Can Harm Life and Business?

Needless to say that the use of mobile devices has revolutionized our current lifestyle. Brazil, alongside Indonesia, had the highest average daily mobile usage in 2021, with an average of five and a half hours per day. It's no wonder smartphones and tablets account for approximately 55% of global website traffic.?

In simple terms, mobile devices can be defined as any device capable of running Android or iOS. Within this concept, we must not forget that they are essentially mini-computers, making them valuable tools for work.

The main concern is that people still treat mobile devices as personal belongings, even when used in a corporate environment. Cybercriminals have already taken advantage of this behavior and developed intelligent means to exploit the vulnerabilities of mobile phones.

In this article, I have made a list of considerations that need to be analyzed to ensure the security of your business.

1 - Social Engineering Among Devices

When it comes to mobile devices, we constantly receive notifications from several sources, such as banks, healthcare systems, or other types of services. Hackers take advantage of this by creating deceptive messages to execute phishing scams and collect confidential data.

In recent months, the "fake job" scam has been mastering social media platforms, even infiltrating LinkedIn accounts. Unfortunately, those that ignore security protocols may find themselves significantly harmed by what should have been good news.

2 - Fake Apps

Mobile devices open a door of opportunities for cybercriminals. Currently, the big trend is the creation of fake apps to steal data.

At first sight, everything appears to be normal and harmless. They are designed to function similarly to legitimate applications. However, when users download them, malicious code is activated, capturing personal data, including credit card and bank account passwords.

Here, what is at stake is not only online security, but the user's security, and, consequently, the companies are at risk.

3 - Outdated Operating Systems

The migration of a good part of the workforce to remote models has revealed a lack of IT control over employees' devices. Personal and professional mobile devices without proper updates are a prime target for criminals, as they do not meet the required security levels and are not patched.

4 - Spyware

Finally, we reach a stage where many companies may not even be aware that it exists.

Compromised mobile devices can be infected with spyware, a way of malicious software that collects personal information. This data includes usernames, passwords, browsing history, internet habits, payment information, and messages.

In addition to personal data, cybercriminals may also gain access to company information if the device is used for work purposes.

Facing plenty of potential threats, companies and their IT teams must include mobile devices used by their professionals within their security ecosystems. Implementing mobile management programs with defined policies is the most appropriate solution to mitigate risks in an increasingly mobile and digital environment.