Are Mobile Devices Putting Your Company at Risk?
Did you know that mobile malware attacks are on the rise? According to Symantec, mobile malware variants have increased by 54% in just the first four months of 2018.
As their screen size, speed and performance have increased, smartphones have begun to replace devices like laptops and desktop computers. Hackers have caught on, and your business cannot afford to put mobile security on the back burner. In 2018, mobile security must be a key element of your cyber-security plan.
Cyber criminals are a practical bunch; as more and more users install banking, credit card, and corporate apps onto their mobile devices, these thieves are simply following the money. It is expected, as we move forward in 2018, that more malware will begin targeting banking and other financial apps through mobile devices.
Your employees may have learned to recognize suspicious emails, and you may have implemented requirements that have them your team changing their passwords at regular intervals. Yet, as business technology evolves, so do cyber-security best practices. Do you have a plan in place to handle the risks mobile devices pose to your business? If not, it is time to find a partner to help you craft one. Mobile device users are now more vulnerable to phishing attacks than desktop users, and that vulnerability leaves your network exposed.
Given the trends in today’s workforce, you can depend on your employees accessing your network from a variety of devices. It is safe to say that most mobile device users are not as vigilant about ransomware or phishing attacks as they would be when working on a desktop.
We can help your team stay protected in the face of mobile attacks.
Here are four cybersecurity steps your workforce can take today:
- Make sure employees working remotely are connecting through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Do not connect to public Wi-Fi networks on a company device.
- Require regular software updates so that devices have the latest security patches.
- Lock devices with strong PINs and/or Touch ID. Just as we all know not to use “password” as the password for our bank account, we need to take the same care with locking our mobile devices in case they fall into the wrong hands.
- Update your apps. Just as you need to update your operating system to take advantage of security patches, users must do the same with their apps so that hackers cannot exploit known flaws that a patch would have fixed.
These are only the first steps. Don’t overlook mobile security. Contact Net Works today to protect your network.
