Mobile devices contain consumer security risk

Friday, January 27, 2012

A survey published by the National Cyber Security Alliance and NQ Mobile recently shed light on a disturbing statistic within the consumer electronics market. Of those polled, 58 percent of customers reported that they didn't know if they needed mobile security, and others did not have any mobile security because they were unaware if it was necessary to protect their phones. With private functions like banking becoming commonplace on the average smartphone, mobile device management is more important than ever.

According to the Star Press, computer security expert Rob Cambridge said "Pretty much any and all information contained on the device can be accessed. Malicious apps can see your browsing history, access your contact data, track your location, or even take pictures and record audio and video without you knowing."

A lot of mobile devices come with optional security methods already installed - users can enable things like passwords and installation prompts to help combat unauthorized use in the "physical" world. However, these measures do not help with unsecured Bluetooth or Wi-Fi networks, or even hackers that use mobile applications to access private data. These high-risk scenarios are where managed security services can be highly effective.

Solutions like incorporating VPNs on personal units can make mobile security much less of a headache for IT professionals and consumers alike.