Mobile Applications Proving Potential Threat to Device Security and Organizational Integrity
Gotta Be Aware: The Risky Business of BYOD
In today's tech-savvy world, employees are increasingly using their personal devices for work purposes, leading to a surge in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. While this trend boosts productivity, it also opens a Pandora's box of security concerns, particularly when it comes to downloading apps on these devices. Here's why you should cast a wary eye over this conduct.
Starting with the diverse range of applications available, employees often turn to third-party app stores and websites for downloads, bypassing the more secure Apple App Store and Google Play Store. These unregulated outlets are a hotbed for malware as they don't have the stringent security checks in place that their more renowned counterparts do.
Even apps downloaded from legitimate app stores can be compromised. Sometimes, bad actors cleverly evade security screenings by concealing malicious code or displaying a fake User Interface (UI). Until it's too late, these nefarious apps pose as legitimate software, silently helping hackers access sensitive data or take control of the device.
Moreover, employees might unwittingly grant permissions to apps they download, allowing them to access sensitive information like contacts, location data, and even clipboard content. This makes these apps enticing targets for hackers when they strike.
Now, let's discuss how these dangerous applications find their way onto employees' devices and onto your networks.
The Suspicious Journey of Malicious Apps
Shielding your devices from these treacherous apps appears simple, but it's often more complicated. That's because these apps infiltrate devices through easy-to-miss methods.
Unregulated app stores are a prime source of trouble. They don't have robust security checks, making it easier for malicious apps to sneak through. Apart from these stores, bad actors exploit vulnerabilities in outdated versions of legitimate apps on third-party stores. They also lure users into downloading apps from non-traditional sources, such as websites, social media posts, or forums, where there's no security check in place.
Even apps available on Google Play and Apple Store can be a danger if they're hacked. Hackers have mastered strategies to circumvent security screenings, displaying fake UIs or edit app code in subsequent updates that don't need to be screened again.
Earlier this year, a new malware was uncovered on App Store apps, whereas a popular screen recording app was updated with backdoor malware a year after its launch. In another instance, a barcode scanner app boasting over 10M downloads changed ownership, resulting in malware almost overnight.
Regardless of how a malicious or compromised app makes its way onto an employee's device, once it does, a bad actor can access all data stored on that phone, including your company data, posing a massive security risk. Therefore, educating employees on mobile security best practices is crucial to preventing costly breaches.
The Insidious Act of Compromising Devices
Whether employees download a malicious app or a legitimate one that's been hacked, the consequences can be severe. Hackers usually compromise devices by installing some form of malware. This can include Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, or cryptojacking software.
- Trojan horses masquerade as legitimate apps but grant hackers access to devices to install additional malware, read stored data, or exfiltrate the phone's data.
- Ransomware, like its name suggests, is used to hold data hostage in exchange for a ransom or to cause device disruption.
- Spyware allows hackers to monitor activity, intercept sensitive communication, extract valuable data, and access passwords for company software.
- Adware enables bad actors to engage in ad fraud by running applications in the background and clicking on ads to generate income.
- Cryptojacking software lets hackers use a person's phone to mine cryptocurrency without the device owner's knowledge or consent, often shifting to harvest important organization account-related credentials.
By employing these tactics, a hacker can compromise an employee's personal device, ultimately gaining access to your company's data. It's only a matter of time before they strike.
In summary, mobile devices pose a substantial risk to organizations due to their inherently less secure nature and the likelihood of employees downloading dubious apps. Traditional Mobile Device Management (MDM) has proven insufficient in protecting against these threats due to low user adoption and limitations. A more proactive approach involving Mobile Threat Detection and Response (MDR) is recommended to ensure a safe and secure work environment. For comprehensive mobile protection services, consult our experts and explore the available options on our website.
In the context of the risqué trend of BYOD policies, threat detection in cybersecurity becomes crucial, as employees often download apps from unregulated sources, potentially exposing the network to malware and data breaches. Data-and-cloud-computing security is at risk due to the ease with which malicious apps can bypass security screenings, infiltrating devices through various methods, including non-traditional sources and updates of legitimate apps on third-party stores. Once these apps are on a device, they can compromise the device and, subsequently, the sensitive company data stored on it, necessitating a more proactive approach involving Mobile Threat Detection and Response (MDR) for comprehensive mobile protection.
