4 Mobile Security Threats to Watch Out For

By February 23, 2018 Security
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The rise of mobile technology has transformed the way companies do business, but it hasn’t always been for the better. You probably remember the times when the only devices you needed to worry about were desktop computers. However, there’s now a multitude of other security threats to watch out for, particularly when it comes to mobile devices.

There’s a lot more to securing your fleet of mobile devices, whether they’re employee- or company-owned, than simply installing the latest antimalware program. With that in mind, here are four mobile security threats you’ll need to guard against to prevent a serious data breach:

#1. Malicious Apps

Since devices like smartphones are nothing more than palm-sized computers, they are every bit as susceptible to malware infections as any other computer. While app stores tend to do quite a good job of keeping dangerous apps off mobile devices, you can’t count on them entirely.

Even if a particular app isn’t malicious in nature, it might have a severe vulnerability. You also need to consider the fact that most people barely even glance at the list of permissions before installing an app for the first time. That’s why you need to blacklist vulnerable apps on any devices used for business. For the same reason, you’ll also want to ban any jailbroken devices because they’re no longer protected by the device manufacturer.

#2. Public WiFi

Public WiFi is ubiquitous, allowing employees to easily work on the move. However, public wireless networks are often unsecured, and even if they’re not, you still don’t know exactly where your data could end up. For example, hackers often dupe people into connecting to networks with spoofed security certificates.

To truly take advantage of workforce mobility, you’ll need to have policies and tools that restrict access to data when connected to public networks. One way to do this is to make your business resources unavailable to anyone who isn’t connecting through a private corporate VPN.

#3. Lack of Encryption

We’ve already seen how many mobile apps take a lax approach to security, which could lead to your data ending up in the wrong hands. For example, even though the device itself might be encrypted, that doesn’t mean that all data in transit will be safe from hackers and snoopers.

To ensure the safety of your business apps and data, it’s imperative that your fleet of mobile devices is equipped with full, end-to-end encryption. This means all data must be encrypted from the moment it leaves the device.

#4. No Password Protection

Did you know that over a third of mobile users don’t even use a password or PIN code to unlock their phones? It shouldn’t be hard to see why this presents a recipe for disaster if anyone is using these unsecured devices for work. All it takes for a third party to gain access to your business accounts and data is a lost or stolen device.

If employees are going to use their phones for work, you’ll need to make your access and security requirements clear to them first. That means implementing full device encryption and lock-screen passwords. Furthermore, you should implement multi-factor authentication for all your cloud-based resources, which will add another layer of complexity to your passwords. Finally, you’ll also need to be able to remotely wipe any lost or stolen devices, and this is done with mobile device management software.

At Truewater, we live and breathe cybersecurity. By partnering with us, you’ll be able to lock down your network and take advantage of the modern technology you need to position your business for future growth. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

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Truewater

Truewater was established in 2001 with the vision of bringing enterprise class IT support to small and medium sized businesses.