A new security threat: Mobile Malware

Technology related attacks tend to follow what is popular and gravity toward the platforms and devices that the large group of people are using. While email was once the biggest target of cyber criminals a number of new technologies have emerged, and as a result so has the focus of cybercriminal seeking to spread virus and malware to unsuspecting computer users.

Considering recent trends, Canadian companies and internet users should expect that mobile devices and technology as well as social media will be the primary source of attacks in the coming years.

Mobile malware threats

As more and more companies make the transition to social media and, more specifically, mobile technology, they need to be aware of the major threats that exist; primarily mobile malware.

Many within the internet industry expect mobile malware to become a serious threat as cyber criminals are developed malware specifically targeted at the mobile industry, especially Android devices, at an extremely high rate. Smartphones and other mobile devices are full of data that is tied to personal and business financial records, passwords and accounts that if cracked, could be a source of value for cybercriminals.

There are two main reasons for mobile malware attacks. They are profit from infection, where the malware industry attempts to profit from the infected devices, and cost of infection, where they are concerned with how easy it is to distribute the malware. The end result being that each one of these approaches will force users to dip into their wallet for protection or repair.

The real danger lies in the fact that so many professionals have integrated work related networks to their personal mobile devices. Therefore, malware can impact users both personally and professionally if they are targeted.

Therefore companies need to take security measures and set specific guidelines related to the syncing of company resources to get a good handle on a security measure to protect them against a potential mobile malware threat.

Mobile features that are at risk

Mobile device users are at risk in a number of different ways and mobile malware attacks are commonly focusing on these avenues to attack your mobile device:

There are a number of things that mobile users and companies can do to protect the .mselves from a mobile malware attack. Here are some of the most common steps:

The truth is that these threats are not going to go away any time soon. Therefore, mobile device users and companies need to be proactive and protect themselves from treats before they become a victim.