Don’t Be a Victim: Common Mobile Malware Traps

Your smartphone is a digital wallet, communication hub, and personal assistant. All rolled into one portable device. It’s packed with sensitive data, from financial information to personal photos. This makes it a prime target for cybercriminals. 

Mobile malware is often overlooked. People focus on securing their laptops or desktops. But they don’t pay as close attention to smartphone and tablet security.

In 2023, attacks on mobile devices increased by 50% over the prior year.

The fact is that hackers haven’t overlooked mobile devices. They set many traps to get users to infect their devices with malware. We’ll uncover common mobile malware traps and tell you how to avoid them.

Common Mobile Malware Traps

Mobile malware is just like its computer counterpart. It is malicious software designed to harm your device or steal your data. It can arrive in various forms, from sneaky apps to deceptive links. Ignorance is not bliss here. Understanding the common traps is your first line of defense.

1. Phishing Attacks: These are the most common. You receive a text or email appearing legitimate, often mimicking trusted brands. Clicking links or downloading attachments can lead to malware infection.
2. Malicious Apps: Not all apps are safe. Some apps contain hidden malware that can steal data, display ads, or even control your device. Always research apps before downloading.
3. SMS Scams: Phishing SMS scams, or smishing, use text messages to trick you. They lure you into clicking links or sharing personal information. Be wary of unexpected messages, especially those asking for sensitive info.
4. Wi-Fi Risks: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured. Connecting to them without caution can expose your device to hackers. Avoid accessing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi.
5. Fake Apps: These mimic popular apps but are actually malware in disguise. They can steal your login credentials, financial information, or even control your device. Always verify app authenticity.
6. Adware: While less harmful than other malware, adware can be annoying. It can also potentially expose you to other threats. It often comes bundled with other apps.

Protecting Yourself: Essential Tips

• Stay Updated: Keep your phone’s operating system and apps updated. Install the latest security patches or turn on auto-update.
• Be Wary of Links and Attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments. Particularly from unknown senders.
• Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords for your phone and all your apps. Consider using a password manager.
• App Store Safety: Only download apps from official app stores like Google Play or the Apple App Store. Read reviews and check permissions before installing.
• Beware of Public Wi-Fi: Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi to encrypt your data.
• Regular Backups: Back up your phone regularly to protect your data from loss or corruption.
• Security Software: Consider using a reputable mobile security app for added protection.

Extra Steps to Safeguard Your Smartphone

Here are a few more layers of protection you can use to fortify your smartphone’s defenses.

Physical Security Matters

• Lock It Up: Always set a strong passcode, fingerprint, or facial recognition lock. Avoid simple patterns that can be easily guessed.
• Beware of Public Charging: Avoid using public USB charging stations. These can be compromised, allowing hackers to access your device.
• Lost or Stolen Phone: If your phone is lost or stolen, remotely wipe its data. This protects your sensitive information.

App Permissions: A Closer Look

• Limit App Permissions: When installing apps, carefully review the requested permissions. Deny unnecessary permissions to safeguard your privacy and data. For instance, a flashlight app doesn’t need access to your contacts.
• Regular App Audits: Periodically review the apps on your phone. Uninstall apps you no longer use to reduce potential vulnerabilities.

Backup Your Data

• Cloud Backups: Use cloud storage services to back up your data regularly. This ensures you have a copy of your important files even if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Local Backups: Consider backing up your phone to your computer. This is another added layer of protection.

Empower Yourself: Take Control of Your Digital Life

By following these tips, you can significantly enhance your smartphone’s security. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Stay vigilant, informed, and proactive in protecting your digital life.

Your smartphone is a powerful tool. But it’s also a potential target for cybercriminals. By understanding the threats and taking proactive steps, you can prevent catastrophe. Enjoy the benefits of mobile technology without compromising your (or your company’s) security!

Contact Us to Fortify Mobile Security at Home and Office

A majority of employees use personal devices for work. This means mobile malware can impact more than one individual. It can also lead to a data breach of an entire company network.

Be proactive and put mobile security in place now. Our team of experts can help with reliable solutions to secure all your devices.

Contact Morefield today to schedule a chat about mobile device protection.

Featured Image Credit

This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

6 Relevant Cyber Threats for SMBs and their Solutions

1. Phishing / Spear Phishing
   • Conduct training sessions to help employees recognize phishing / spear phishing attempts
   • Implement email filtering to detect / block phishing emails before they reach the inbox
2. Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS)
   • Continuously monitor traffic for unusual patterns that might indicate an attack
   • Use rate limiting to restrict the # of requests a server can process from a single IP
3. Man In the Middle (MitM) Attacks
   • Encourage the use of VPNs to encrypt data transmitted over public networks
   • Use strong, two-factor authentication methods to verify user identities
4. Malware Attacks
   • Install antivirus and anti-malware software on all devices
   • Keep all software and systems up to date with the latest security patches
5. Drive-By Attacks
   • Use web filtering to block access to malicious websites
   • Ensure browsers are updated with the latest security patches and configurations
6. Password Attacks
   • Encourage the use of password managers to store and generate secure passwords
   • Implement account lockout after multiple failed attempts to prevent brute force attacks

Ready to learn more? Check out our 5 Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025

Not sure where to start?

Ask Morefield

Information technology (IT) has changed dramatically over the past few years, with advances in virtually every aspect of the industry. Cybersecurity, specifically, has evolved from its previous form.

Our list of cybersecurity predictions for the coming year can help you understand what you might face in 2025.

1. The Evolution of Ransomware

First on our cybersecurity 2025 forecast is the increasing frequency of ransomware attacks. These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and more common, demonstrated by an 81% year-over-year increase from 2023 to 2024.

Ransomware locks users out of individual computers — or even entire networks — until the ransom is paid. Even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll recover everything hit by the attack. 

Encryption-only ransomware is becoming significantly less common. Attackers primarily use double extortion tactics to manipulate targets into paying the ransom. Double extortion is an advanced tactic where attackers combine data encryption with data theft to increase pressure on victims to pay the ransom. 

2. Internet of Things Expansion

Another of the most important 2025 cybersecurity threats is the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT refers to a network of internet-connected devices other than smartphones, tablets and computers, such as:

• Smartwatches.
• Wearable fitness trackers.
• Smart home appliances.
• Voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
• Car infotainment systems.
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Projections show that by 2030, the number of IoT devices in use will exceed 32 billion worldwide. 

The more devices connected to your network, the larger your attack surface becomes. Cybercriminals can take advantage of all the new endpoints your expansion has opened to enter your system unnoticed.

3. Artificial Intelligence Empowering Cybercriminals

The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) was a significant turning point in 2023 and 2024. While it helped companies boost their efficiency, it also gave malicious actors new opportunities.

Some examples include:

• Optimized attacks: Generative AI and machine learning (ML) technologies can help even inexperienced attackers create more sophisticated malware, eliminate the typical indicators from a phishing email or scale their attacks to affect more targets.
• Data poisoning: A hacker can inject false, biased or corrupted data into an AI’s training datasets, causing the AI to produce inaccurate results and reduce performance.
• Automated malware: While AI programs like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have some protections in place to discourage malicious coding, determined hackers can bypass them and use the program to automatically produce malicious code.
• Model stealing: Attackers can replicate an AI model by querying it and observing outputs — effectively stealing the model without direct access to the original code or training data.
• Bias exploitation: AI models may inadvertently acquire biases from training data, and attackers can exploit them to manipulate outcomes in their favor.
• AI in deepfakes: Artificial intelligence can create realistic fake videos or audio recordings that can be used to impersonate individuals or spread misinformation.
• Autonomous decision-making risks: Attackers could target or manipulate AI systems that make autonomous decisions, especially regarding critical infrastructure or defense. 

4. Public Cloud Growth

While most businesses have fully resumed in-person operations, many still give remote-capable employees the option to work remotely. 

This rapid expansion of the remote workforce has led to organizations relying on resources and services from public cloud data centers, such as collaborative software platforms and infrastructure components. 

While cloud service providers typically put many security measures in place to protect data from attackers, some risks are difficult to address:

• Misconfigured cloud settings: Failing to properly configure your cloud settings to comply with industry regulations can accidentally create exploitable vulnerabilities.
• Insider threats: Whether a remote worker intentionally leaks data or accidentally leaves their account open for attackers, cybercriminals can access the public cloud more easily than private clouds or on-premises networks. 
• Sniffing or snooping: Migrating data to the cloud via unsecured network connections can give attackers an opening to hijack it in transit.
• Insecure APIs: Public cloud services are often accessed via application programming interfaces (APIs). If these APIs are not properly secured, attackers can exploit them and gain unauthorized access. 
• Denial of service (DoS) attacks: Attackers can target cloud services, overwhelming resources and making services unavailable. 

5. Extended Reality Vulnerabilities

While extended reality (XR) technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are becoming more popular in personal and professional applications, they still lack many of the cybersecurity protections of the other tools in your IT stack. 

Some of the potential risks this gap creates include:

• Social engineering: Many XR programs come from third-party developers, which increases the risk of unreliable content manipulating your users to perform specific actions. Vetting your software vendors is key. 
• Ransomware: Hackers could plant malicious code or links into a VR or AR program to lure unsuspecting users into activating a computer virus. 
• Lack of privacy: VR headsets and AR technologies collect user biometric data, such as retina scans, eye movements and typical behavior patterns. Hackers can use this data to recreate user actions and gain unauthorized access to your system.
• Man-in-the-middle attack: XR applications often rely on real-time data transmission between devices and servers. Attackers could intercept this data, altering its content or injecting malicious data. 

Developing Solutions for the Future of Cybersecurity

As technology advances, the IT market gains opportunities to enhance security protections against external and internal threats. Here are promising developments in the future of cybersecurity.

Immersive Cybersecurity Training

A nonmalicious human element is a key factor in 68% of all data breaches, according to Verizon’s most recent Data Breach Investigations Report. An engaging security awareness training program is one of the most effective ways to mitigate human risk.

VR opens new, immersive security training opportunities for employees in various industries. By gamifying learning in an engaging virtual world, organizations can motivate employees to continue improving. 

Virtualized Security Operations Centers

Although security operations centers (SOCs) are a must for any cybersecurity provider, physical centers are increasingly expensive to build and maintain. XR technologies could present a cost-effective solution.

VR and AR can enable companies to create fully virtual, interactive SOCs using infinite office platforms, which could allow security professionals to work remotely while providing the same level of service. 

Virtualization could also enable SOC employees to automate time-consuming and tedious tasks, streamlining workflows and giving them the ability to focus on more complex projects.

AI-Enhanced Tools

AI-powered cybersecurity tools can help your organization enhance its security posture with capabilities like:

• Predictive analytics: AI technologies enable your organization to adopt a more proactive stance by predicting potential cybersecurity risks and their outcomes.
• Advanced threat detection: AI algorithms can also identify abnormal behavior faster than a human cybersecurity professional, enabling you to stay on top of insider threats and compromised accounts.
• ML capabilities: ML enables a software program to learn from previous cycles, creating a security system that can continuously update its knowledge of threats and adapt appropriate responses.

Why Trust Us?

Knowledge is power — especially in the cybersecurity and IT industries. At Morefield, our expert team is passionate about providing our readers with the information they need to make decisions about their security requirements. 

Our decades of experience in the technology field have given us valuable insight into the most common risks small to medium-sized businesses across various industries face daily. 

We strive to thoroughly understand how cybersecurity risks affect businesses so that we can lead the industry in creating the most effective solutions. Providing high-quality resources like this blog post is a key component of that mission.

Prepare for 2025 With Cybersecurity Services From Morefield

When it comes to preparing for the future of cybersecurity, proactivity is critical. Many companies find that their best chance of avoiding serious consequences is by obtaining outside help. 

Working with a managed cybersecurity company can make the process easier. At Morefield, we offer various scalable security solutions, including but not limited to:

• Vulnerability assessments.
• vCISO services.
• Next-generation firewalls.
• Security awareness training.
• Mobile device management.

Whatever your organization needs, we can help you find the best solution to meet those requirements.

Connect with us online for more information about our cybersecurity solutions and services. An expert will answer any questions you may have.