EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
For CISOs, managing an organization’s network security can be a bit like whack-a-mole. You take care of one issue and another pops up. Overlay a mobile workforce on top of that, and the possibilities for getting hacked can multiply. In fact, a recent mobile threat research report reveals that every business has experienced at least one mobile cyberattack in the past year. It’s an area that has become very attractive to hackers because of the many ways they can break into mobile devices.
To that point, CNN reports, “Mary McCord, who used to head the Justice Department’s national security division, says smartphones are notorious for their security vulnerabilities.”
Four main reasons drive hackers to target mobile:
- Free Ride. Mobile devices can be easy to crack.
- More Opportunity. More than 2 million devices are in use today and with the array of apps and sharing that go with devices, hackers have plenty of room to extend their reach.
- Lower-Hanging Fruit. It turns out that phone jacking is a remarkably easy scheme that can give cyber attackers quick access to sensitive information.
- More Impact. An infected mobile device can cause more damage than an infected computer.
Three steps can help prevent mobile threats from taking over:
- Don’t rely solely on mobile device management (MDM) or enterprise mobility management (EMM). Be sure to implement solutions that specifically prevent mobile malware.
- Set policies and protections around access.
- Make sure protections extend to the cloud.
Get more detail and the full story at CSO.
