Malicious Mobile Apps a Growing Concern
Malicious Mobile Apps a Growing Concern Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
The phrase “mobile security” does not usually mean much to anyone, until of course they encounter their first mobile attack. For a growing number of App Store and Android Market customers, this is a growing fear that is becoming all too real.
Already in 2010, mobile apps via both the App Store and Android Market, owned by Apple Inc (NASDAQ: APPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) respectively, have experienced a rise in malicious mobile apps. Often consumers on these popular portals and others like them assume that anything they download to their handsets should be safe. Despite best efforts however, many risky apps from those with harmful embedded source code to those masquerading as legitimate financial services apps are making their way to mobile users.
This rise in mobile threats comes at a time of industry vulnerability as popular app-driven handsets like the Apple iPhone and Motorola Droid are in very high demand. As the app markets are poised for substantial growth in the years ahead, tackling these security issues must remain at the forefront of priorities for industry experts. To combat this problem head-on, MyMobiSafe.com recently launched MyMobiSafe Verified, a service which offers the industry’s first universal verification credentials for app developers. Demand for the MyMobiSafe Verified logo is quickly growing amongst app developers and those shopping for new apps.
App verification is becoming the leading opportunity for legitimate app developers to demonstrate the integrity of their apps in a crowded marketplace that is becoming increasingly at risk from malicious apps. From imposter financial apps to free gaming apps that are phishing for information on handsets, the mobile community is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of such verified services like MyMobiSafe Verified.
As upwards of 10,000 new apps are submitted to these popular app retailers each week, the sheer volume is exposing significant handset-level vulnerabilities. Additionally the growing popularity of the unregulated mobile banking and mobile financial services is attracting an increasing number of hackers into the mobile community.
Securing the Future of Wireless, one App at a time! To learn more about Eric Everson "The MobileTech" visit his bio.