Mobile Devices on Cyber Security: The Modern

¶ … Mobile Devices on Cyber security:

The modern society including corporate environments has been characterized by the proliferation of mobile devices. The increased use of these devices is attributed to the significant opportunities they bring and their contribution towards enhanced communication. However, the increased use of mobile devices has been accompanied by considerable concerns regarding the privacy of personal information and sensitive corporate data that are stored on them. In essence, mobile devices have significant impacts on cyber-security because the type of data stored and accessed on the devices contributes to heightened security risks. Despite the significant benefits associated with the increased use of mobile devices, they generate new cyber security issues including heightened financial risks, loss of company data, and non-compliance issues.

Increased Use of Mobile Devices:

Mobile devices have become attractive platforms for communication in today's society to an extent that they are increasingly used for storing and accessing personal information as well as company data. The increased use of the devices has been enhanced by the adoption of near field communication for mobile payment services, particularly in business. As a result, people and businesses not only rely on these devices for communication purposes but also use them for monetary services. Actually, it is estimated that the use of mobile devices will continue to grow in the future for various purposes.

However, the increased use of the devices is also accompanied by significant cyber security threats because of the type of information stored on and accessed from the devices. Generally, the increased use of mobile devices in the future will be accompanied by an increase in the volume of attacks that are targeted to the devices (Smith, 2012). Smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices are associated with increased cyber security issues because they provide another element of a probable cyber attack. Some of the various ways with which these devices contributed to increased cyber security issues is through the development and introduction of new mobile applications and games with potential threats.

The major cyber security issues that originate from the increased use of mobile devices in today's society include unauthorized access to information like contacts lists and physical location and the likelihood of downloading dangerous applications. Notably, there is a probability of downloading programs or applications that spy on text messages and phone calls. The emergence of these applications is attributed to the fact that hackers are rapidly learning how to collect legitimate applications and repackage them into malicious programs before selling or providing them through various ways to innocent users (Smith, 2012). With regards to the use of these devices for company data, the major cyber security threats include increased financial threats, loss of company information, and non-compliance issues. These issues have particularly been enhanced by the ongoing universal adoption of social media for personal and business purposes and activities. Moreover, the cyber security issues in the corporate world due to the use of mobile devices are fueled by easy access to corporate networks and social media platforms.

Mobile Devices and Cyber security Issues:

As evident in this discussion, mobile devices pose a triple threat to privacy of personal and company information because they are used for personal and business purposes. The increased use of these devices in the future will not only be dangerous to cyber security but will also make cyber attacks become more advanced and widespread. The main impact of mobile devices on cyber security is that it contributes to more security risks in the corporate world. Due to this trend, the modern business environment is characterized by significant security threats and attacks. Some of the major ways through which increased use of mobile devices enhances security risks include & #8230;

Connectivity to Corporate Networks:

Since mobile devices have become common communication channels in the modern society, organizations have continued to allow workers to connect their personal devices to corporate networks. These organizations have justified their actions by citing the proliferation of personal devices in the past few years. Consequently, there are twice as many personal devices in the working environment as compared to several years ago. While the increased connectivity of personal devices to corporate networks has some advantages, the trend has increased security risks and cyber attacks. Actually, in the past few years, more than 60% of workers in organizations allowing connectivity of personal devices to corporate networks have reported an increase in security threats and cyber attacks on the organizations ("The Impact of Mobile Devices on Information Security," 2012). These individuals have stated that most of the security risks and cyber attacks have been brought by the use of mobile devices in corporate networks.

Lack of Awareness and Carelessness:

The second major way through which the increased use of mobile devices contributes to more cyber security issues is through lack of awareness of and carelessness regarding the impact of mobile data on security. While organizations continue to allow workers to connect mobile devices to corporate networks, most of these workers remain unaware of the probable risks that mobile devices pose to cyber security. In addition, many people are unaware of the various ways that hackers use to develop and sell their malicious programs to unsuspecting users. The lack of awareness on security threats continues to increase cyber security issues and attacks as mobile phones are increasingly used for communication and in the workplace. On the other hand, these security issues and threats are fueled by careless workers who deliberately attempt to steal corporate information for malicious use. These employees attempt to steal such information directly or collaborate with hackers for such purposes. This contributes to the need for organizations to combine technology and security awareness while dealing with any carelessness from some employees.

Sophistication of Cyber Attacks:

The use of mobile devices enhances cyber security issues by increasing sophistication of cyber attacks and means of carrying out those attacks. Hackers have abandoned traditional ways of carrying out their attacks and developed new means through personal devices. For instance, cyber criminals have dumped the traditional scareware methods like Fake AV scams (Ayrapetov, 2013). One of the major ways adopted by these criminals used to accomplish their objectives is through collecting legitimate mobile applications or programs and repackaging them before selling to unsuspecting users. The programs are repackaged in a way that it is almost impossible for the average users of mobile devices to regain control of the system or data once the attack has been carried out.