Because of the rapid advancement of the mobile phone industry and the advent of cloud services and applications, mobile phones have now become more vulnerable.

Different sections of the mobility landscape face different security threats. Some attack the physical device at the hardware or operating system level, while others take advantage of mobile apps and public app stores to gain access to the device and then the corporate network. Communication networks such as WiFi, wireless, and Bluetooth are also under threat.

Types of attacks against Mobile Phones:

1. Social engineering

To trick people into clicking dangerous links or providing confidential information. Phishing has been on the rise in recent years, and mobile users are particularly vulnerable. Since many mobile email clients only show the sender’s name, it’s easy to spoof messages and fool people into believing they’re receiving an email from someone they know or trust.

2. Data leakage

In 2021, data leakage is considered as one of the most concerning risks to corporate security. A company has a 28 percent risk of having a leak at least once every two years. This can happen in many ways but two common ways are.

The first is incorrect app configuration, in which users unintentionally allow apps to view and move their data.

Accidental disclosure is the second most common source of data leakage. Since mobile devices have a tiny display, the user sees less information, which leads to information being sent to the wrong email address.

3. WiFi interference

In an age where we’re constantly connected to networks that aren’t always stable — whether it’s poorly installed home networks, remote workers, or public WiFi networks — our data isn’t always as safe as we think.

4. Out-of-date devices

Smartphones, tablets, and other devices, collectively known as the internet of things (IoT), pose a security risk to businesses because, unlike normal work devices, they don’t come with a promise of timely software updates. Many of them aren’t even intended to receive updates.

5. Poor password hygiene

Most of the users are still not adequately protecting their accounts. This is especially troublesome when they’re carrying phones with both company and personal sign-ins on them. The vast majority of users probably don’t use strong passwords in most places.

6. Device Loss and Theft

According to Verizon, 70 million smartphones are lost or stolen each year and only 7% are recovered. 2% of all smartphones and tablets are not configured with a lock screen.

Mobile security policy is needed to prevent leakage of information as well as personal damage.

The classification society prompts smartphone users to follow some rules, to ensure their and company’s safety:

1. Do not install malicious apps or visit untrustworthy websites.
2. Delete any messages that are vague or suspicious, as well as messages from unknown senders.
3. Make use of the password generator and update your password on a regular basis.
4. Always make sure the operating system and anti-virus software are up to date.
5. Check mobile networks for bugs (such as viruses and malicious code vulnerabilities) on a regular basis, and keep operating systems and programmes up to date.
6. Before you download something, make sure the source of all your files and apps is secure.
7. Never install apps that need a lot of information, and always be mindful of the permissions and access you’re giving an app. People who are unaware of why mobile protection is so critical today are vulnerable to invasive apps.
8. Allow “Find My Android” or “Find My iPhone” to wipe/lock your stolen phone or locate missing devices if it is stolen. Most of the users will be unable to recover their phones if they don’t have this feature.
9. Using VPNs if you’re using a public Wi-Fi link.
10. When emails, calls, or other forms of communication ask for personal information such as passwords and usernames, be skeptical. When two-factor authentication is enabled.
11. Make sure you’ve selected and activated Google Play Protect on your Android device. Allow the “Verify Apps” option in settings and disable “unknown sources” if you aren’t using them.

To sum up, it is always a good idea to follow the above best practices in order to stay safe from attacks.