JABAR EKSPRES – In this increasingly digital age, smartphones are no longer just a means of communication, but have transformed into a repository of personal data and a means for quick and convenient financial transactions.
However, behind the convenience and ease offered by smartphones lies a serious threat to users’ personal, financial and business data.
Cybersecurity company, Kaspersky, in a report on Monday (8/14), revealed three important reasons why smartphones need serious security protection.
First, smartphones no longer just store contact numbers and text messages, but have turned into digital wallets that hold today’s money.
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Southeast Asia has been the stage for a boom in mobile wallet adoption after 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 region by 2022, while 207,506 mobile malware incidents occurred.
Secondly, mobile devices have also become a potential threat to the business environment. Beyond their function as communication tools, smartphones are often used to access corporate emails and assets.
The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) phenomenon that allows the use of personal devices in the work environment, while providing flexibility, also brings potential security risks.
Kaspersky has documented numerous serious cases, including Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) attacks, which entered corporate systems through infected mobile devices.
Third, users’ digital identities are increasingly threatened in the age of social media. Many users are unaware of the dangers of identity theft and fraud that may occur through these platforms.
Fraud often occurs on social media, which is more accessible through mobile devices. Kaspersky shows that one in four internet users in Asia Pacific has been a victim of identity fraud.
