We cannot deny that mobile technology has advanced, but so have the intrusive and malicious mobile applications that are on an endless spree to steal your data. We ought to stay away from all these by leveraging all the technologies and the knowledge that we have! On contrary to common belief, removing mobile application vulnerabilities are not as easy as removing malicious files and thus the process challenges IT administrators and even security officers.
If we take a look at today’s scenario, the mobile malware active these days can be categorized into Android adware and SMS Trojans that are programs which seek financial gain at the user’s expense. Also, the intrusive mobile apps are becoming quite common these days and are designed to threaten users’ privacy by gathering his/her device information. The info may include ID, location SIM card number and much more. According to a Lab research, near to 82% of Google Android apps are tracking users in some way or the other.
The reports have also concluded the fact that the rate of new unsafe mobile apps is still growing and most of them are Adware. We are not saying that all apps are adware, but we can’t ignore a crucial point, that is, majority of the apps facilitate oversharing of information. And for a user, this information may be private. Even the devices that run on iOS are not safe. Therefore, we can conclude that Mobile app safety is not just a concern with Android user, but it should be primary concern of every mobile user.
Yes, it’s tricky to mitigate security risks that present themselves via mobile applications and for this, many organizations have initiated a spree for unfettered app downloads. Potentially harmful mobile apps can come in any form, and that is why one should teach end users to take care of their own security. The tactics such as mobile app sandboxing, containerization, opt-in permissions are proven to be helpful in detecting malware, but they demand a complex procedure to design an effective anti-malware strategy.
5 Easy Ways To Ensure You’re Using Secure Mobile Application In Companies:
However, we cannot just lose hope and be vulnerable or available for the attackers. To mitigate this, one should consider the following mobile application security best practices: –
1. Trust Reputable Apps
There are studies that have revealed that unofficial third-party app stores are capable of circulating a majority of mobile malware. Thus, with Android devices, IT should prohibit side loading (installing non-Google Play apps). Here, the iOS users are also not safe, and thus, they are prohibited from jailbreaking their devices that allows users to install applications from non-trusted sources.
2. Read App Reviews And Requested Permissions Before Installing
Mobile OS requires applications to disclose requested permissions on a prior basis, and the users are required to grant permissions explicitly. Unfortunately, we ignore them and accept the button allow without reading them because they are lengthy enough. However, if one is cautious enough, this can serve as an opportunity to spot intrusive apps. You should remain beware of apps with few installs or poor reviews.
3. Take Help From Anti-malware Apps
For this, you’ll have to do a lot of research and find out the one that suits your requirements the best. One that is designed accurately will be able to detect the applications that have malicious behavior and let you know about the same. But don’t forget to install a reputable one else you may fall into the trap of hackers.
4. Use A Mobile App Reputation Service
The mobile app reputation services like Webroot are gaining mass popularity. The reason behind this is that these programs rate various mobile applications based on factors namely how well an app is secured or the limit up to which an app can access or shares personal data. The IT administrators can leverage these for analysis of any mobile app and tell their team about the same. There are several google apps that are capable of doing this.
5. Test Enterprise Apps For Security Risk
It is recommended to be aware of homegrown vulnerabilities and other weak security coding practices. If your organization develops in-house mobile apps, you can consider contracting with an application security test vendor in order to enable the security of those apps. These security vendors have quite effective methods for identifying vulnerabilities through various types of testing.
One can never declare his/her work done when it comes to security. However, establishing these basic mobile application security controls will surely help in diminishing the risk of malicious applications that might pose a threat to your organizational network.