Why We Need to Focus on Mobile Device Security
When getting a new smartphone, most people focus on features and pricing, while security tends to be overlooked. However, as we access the internet more using mobile devices, protecting users' personal information, transactions, and digital identities is vital.
"Many consumers assume that mobile apps and devices are inherently secure. However, this assumption is misplaced. We see upwards of 10m mobile threats and attacks per day, including a dramatic rise in android banking malware, social engineering, and account takeover attempts."
The perception reveals a disconnect between consumer expectations and the actions of mobile brands. As mobile apps dominate daily activities — from work to banking to healthcare to shopping — the stakes for protecting data, privacy, and identity have never been higher.
Main Concerns Around Mobile Security
- Fraud and hacking remain top concerns for 60.6 percent and 52.4 percent of consumers, respectively.
- These fears are justified given the evolution of threats such as social engineering scams, including phishing, smishing (SMS phishing), and vishing (voice phishing).
Mobile threats like data breaches, location spoofing, impersonation, and account takeovers add layers of risk. Compounding these issues is the growing skepticism among consumers about developers' commitment to security.
Where Does the Balance of Responsibility Lie?
Each layer of the mobile ecosystem plays a critical role in security. Device manufacturers and OS providers like Apple and Google offer foundational protections, such as secure boot and app sandboxing. However, the survey reveals that 68.5 percent of consumers hold mobile app makers primarily responsible for protecting the mobile experience.
"Developers need to go beyond relying on platform-level defenses to implement application-specific protections. These include anti-fraud measures, malware prevention, anti-tampering and secure data storage and transmission to name a few."
By prioritizing security throughout the mobile app lifecycle, from design to deployment, mobile app developers can align with consumer expectations and reduce the risk of fraud and breaches.
How Can Developers Refine Their Approach to Mobile App Security?
- Foundational protections like encryption, code obfuscation, RASP, and jailbreak/root prevention no longer suffice against today's evolving fraud, bot, and cyber threats.
- Brands must adopt continuous protections, including anti-fraud measures, defenses against AI-driven tools and hacking frameworks like Magisk and Frida, safeguards against FaceID bypass, and anti-malware to protect from overlay attacks, accessibility exploits, memory attacks, and social engineering scams.
By leveraging real-time attack telemetry and threat intelligence, developers can dynamically identify and respond to new threats, ensuring resilience against advanced attacks. To stay ahead, mobile brands must integrate security seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, automating protections in every build and release.
What Steps Can Smartphone Users Take to Protect Themselves?
While mobile brands and developers bear primary responsibility, mobile users can reduce risks by downloading apps only from brands they know from trusted sources like Apple and Google app stores, avoiding jailbreaking/rooting, and keeping apps and operating systems updated with the latest security patches.
"The survey also highlights a clear incentive: 98 percent of consumers say they reward security-conscious mobile brands with social media likes, positive app store reviews, and word-of-mouth recommendations."
Prioritizing mobile security not only protects users and brands but also builds customer loyalty, strengthens brand trust, and drives business growth. By delivering continuous built-in protections, mobile developers can safeguard users and turn security into a competitive advantage.