REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — In the increasingly advanced digital era, smartphones are no longer just an ordinary communication tool, but have turned into personal data warehouses and a means for fast and convenient financial transactions. However, behind the comfort and convenience offered by cellphone intelligent, hidden serious threats that can threaten a user’s personal, financial and business data.
Cyber security company Kaspersky, in its report, Monday (14/8/2023), revealed three important reasons why smartphones need serious security protection. First, smartphones are no longer just storing contact numbers and text messages, but have turned into digital wallets that store today’s money.
Southeast Asia has been the stage for an explosion in mobile wallet adoption following the pandemic, with more than 86 direct mobile money services emerging in the region last year. The use of e-wallets is also growing rapidly.
However, with this growth comes serious security risks. Kaspersky noted that 1,083 mobile banking Trojans were blocked in the Southeast Asia region in 2022, while 207,506 mobile malware incidents occurred.
Second, mobile devices have also become a potential threat to the business environment. Beyond their function as a communication tool, smartphones are often used to access email and company assets.
The phenomenon of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) which allows the use of personal devices in a work environment, although it provides flexibility, also carries potential security risks. Kaspersky has documented serious cases, including Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), that entered corporate systems via infected mobile devices.
Third, the user’s digital identity is increasingly threatened in the social media era. Many users are not aware of the dangers of identity theft and fraud that may occur through these platforms.
Fraud is common on social media, which is more accessible via mobile devices. Kaspersky points out that one in four internet users in Asia Pacific has been a victim of identity fraud.
Another study also revealed that around 38 percent of social media users claimed to know someone who had been the victim of a data breach while using social media. This threat has become even more apparent with phishing reports reaching more than 360,000 blocked attempts in 2022, most of them coming from popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber.
In the face of the complexity and development of cyberthreats, Kaspersky emphasizes the need for comprehensive security protection for mobile devices.
source: Between
2023-08-14 02:49:54
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