What is mobile security?
Mobile security is the process of protecting smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices from threats, such as cyberattacks, data loss, and account breaches. It’s a broad category of preventative measures meant to keep your device and data safe. Mobile security starts with security awareness to prevent accidental data exposure and includes security measures like multi-factor authentication and encrypted apps.
Types of mobile security
Mobile security covers several areas that help keep devices and personal information safe:
- Application security. Smartphones offer various apps, including social media, games, finance tools, and entertainment. Choose secure apps and keep them updated.
- Network connection security. When connecting your mobile device to Wi-Fi, use secure private networks to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception. Only share your device’s Wi-Fi hotspot with trusted users to minimize data exposure.
- Device security. Your device’s hardware is vulnerable to attacks, so keep it both physically and digitally protected. Enable biometrics, install antivirus tools, and keep hardware updated.
- Data and authentication security. Your mobile devices contain personal information, including your location and bank account details. Authentication security means implementing access credentials so only you can access this sensitive data.
Why is mobile security important?
Your mobile device contains a huge amount of personal information. If a hacker were to infiltrate your smartphone, they’d likely find your name, birthday, location history, and even your financial information. If you use your smartphone for work, they could also find sensitive information that puts your company at risk.
If a hacker were to access this information, it could have devastating consequences. They could sell your personal details on the dark web, putting you at risk for identity theft. They could also use your information to launch larger cyberattacks in the future.
Because mobile devices contain so much sensitive data, they’ve become a popular target for cyberattacks. For example, 82% of phishing websites now target mobile devices. Hackers know that the average internet user relies heavily on their smartphone for daily activities, and that many people don’t implement proper mobile device security measures.
Types of smartphone security threats
Cybercriminals use various methods to hack your smartphone. The following threats are among the most common and dangerous.
Phishing attacks
In a phishing attack, a hacker sends you an email, social media message, or text message that appears to come from a trusted source. For example, they might send you an email pretending to be Google or Amazon.
These messages look legitimate, but they contain dangerous links or attachments. The links take you to fake websites that prompt you to enter account information. Hackers use these sites to steal your username and password without you realizing it. Some phishing messages also contain malware downloads, which hackers use to monitor your activity and compromise your files.
Social engineering
Social engineering refers to any scam where the hacker manipulates you into revealing sensitive information. Phishing is the most common type of social engineering, but many other variations exist.
With the rise of generative AI tools, these attacks have become even more convincing and dangerous. For example, hackers might call you and use voice-changing technology to impersonate a loved one, saying that they’re in trouble and need money. By appealing to your emotions, the scammer convinces you to wire them money.
Another common social engineering technique is baiting, which happens when hackers offer free gifts or rewards in exchange for an app download. In this situation, the rewards aren’t real, and the app usually turns out to be malware.
Malware and ransomware
Malware is any type of malicious software designed to harm you or your device. The most common type of malware is ransomware, which locks the files on your device and demands a large ransom for their return. Making backup copies of important files and using cloud-based file storage can help you avoid expensive ransom demands if your device is targeted.
Ransomware is just one type of malware. Many hackers also use spyware to monitor your location and online activity without your consent. Another common type of malware is adware, which overwhelms your device with spam ads.
Unsecured Wi-Fi networks
Public Wi-Fi networks usually aren’t encrypted, which means that anyone else on the network could spy on your data. You’ll often find unsecured networks at restaurants, hotels, airports, and parks.
It’s particularly important not to use these public Wi-Fi networks for banking activities because it could lead to identity theft. Instead, use a secure hotspot or wait until you can access a secure network.
Operating system and software vulnerabilities
Hackers exploit vulnerabilities in outdated mobile operating systems and apps to launch their attacks. Developers release updates and patches as soon as these vulnerabilities are detected to fix the problems and protect your devices.
However, many people put off installing mobile device updates, leaving their devices at risk. This situation often happens when users aren’t aware of the updates, or feel like the updates will take too long to install. Some smartphones give you the option to schedule automatic updates while your device is charging, which can help keep you safe and secure.
Fake apps
Many cybercriminals create fake mobile apps to spy on you and steal your data. While these apps look legitimate and are available in app stores, they have the potential to cause serious damage to your device.
Jailbreaking or rooting vulnerabilities
Some people use jailbreaking or rooting strategies to customize their mobile devices. This process happens when you remove the manufacturer’s security restrictions, allowing you to download apps from outside approved app stores and even to change the phone’s interface.
While this customization might seem like an easy way to personalize your phone, it opens you up to a wide range of security risks. For example, jailbroken phones are much more vulnerable to malware because they don’t have restrictions on the apps you can download. Jailbreaking your phone also disables automatic updates, which can make your phone even more vulnerable.
Bluetooth security threats
Bluetooth connects your phone to other devices, such as headphones and car speakers, but can also open your device up to external threats. Hackers can exploit your Bluetooth vulnerabilities to access your data or even lock you out of your device without you realizing it.
iOS vs. Android security considerations
iOS and Android are the two most popular operating systems for smartphones, and they come with different security features. Neither operating system is perfect for mobile data security, and both require additional security measures beyond the default operating system settings.
The biggest difference between the two systems is that Android is open source, while iOS is a closed system. The Apple App Store has slightly stricter requirements than the Google Play Store, although both take steps to limit harmful apps.
Many different phone brands use the Android operating system, while only Apple uses iOS. This variety means that security features can vary between Android devices. However, Google, the developer of Android, has taken steps to improve encryption and mitigate threats across all devices.
This difference doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple is always the safer choice because hackers have found ways to target both operating systems. Ultimately, both platforms still require additional measures like biometric authentication and trustworthy network connections for true security.
Core smartphone security practices
While smartphones are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, you can take steps to protect your data. Use these essential security measures to stay safe on your mobile device.
Virtual private network (VPN)
A virtual private network, or VPN, encrypts your web traffic and hides your real IP address. This protection is particularly helpful if you need to connect to a public Wi-Fi network with your mobile device. The VPN ensures that others on the network can’t see or interfere with your online activity. Because a VPN hides your IP address, it also prevents the websites you visit from seeing your real location.
Mobile endpoint security (MTD/EDR)
Endpoint detection and response, or EDR, is a type of mobile device security software. This is also sometimes called mobile threat defense, or MTD.
These security tools are designed to catch threats or abnormal activity present on your device. They monitor your activity to block phishing messages, malware downloads, and other cyberattacks before they happen.
EDR software is particularly important if you’re using your devices for work because a single data breach could hurt your entire company. However, it can also be very helpful for protecting your personal devices.
Secure web gateway (SWG)
A secure web gateway, or SWG, filters web traffic before it gets to your device. SWGs catch the abnormal web traffic associated with cyberattacks to protect you. SWGs are primarily used in professional settings to protect employees working on company networks.
Email security
Phishing emails are a significant threat to mobile devices because they often contain dangerous links and malware downloads. It’s important to learn how to spot and delete phishing emails manually before they do damage to your device. However, you can also implement email filters on your device to block junk messages from your main inbox, which can reduce the risk of phishing attacks.
Cloud access security broker (CASB)
A cloud access security broker is a type of service broker that can limit mobile device threats in professional settings. The CASB works as an intermediate layer between cloud-based apps on employee mobile devices and on-premise server systems. This security layer prevents threats on employee devices from negatively affecting the company’s primary servers.
Enterprise mobility management (EMM/UEM)
Today, many organizations allow or even encourage employees to work remotely using mobile devices. However, this flexibility can increase the risk of data breaches and other security issues.
To prevent these risks, organizations can implement enterprise mobility management (EMM) policies. These policies are designed to create a secure mobile working environment that limits the possibility of data breaches. EMM includes a combination of endpoint security tools, access management, and ongoing monitoring.
Other mobile security tips
Keeping your mobile device safe doesn’t have to be difficult. Many simple settings changes and protective measures can keep your data secure.
- Use biometric authentication features, like fingerprints or facial recognition, to secure your phone.
- For secure apps like banking platforms, use complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Before downloading an app, conduct mobile app privacy research to see what data they’re collecting from your phone.
- Be cautious with app permissions. Only give an app permission to access your location, camera, microphone, or files if the app is from a trusted developer. Manually review your permissions regularly and revoke them when they’re no longer necessary.
- Avoid open public Wi-Fi networks whenever possible.
- Use remote phone tracking features like Find My Device. These features will help you track down your device if it gets lost, or even lock or wipe it if someone steals it.
- Back up your data on a regular basis to minimize the impact of ransomware attacks.
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