Cyber Security and Mobility Device: Dealing with the Threats

Cyber security was always a big question mark in the otherwise seamless operations of information technology. It is the one faltering point that creates a mental block amongst users when adopting new technology. With the growth of mobile technology and rapid adoption of cloud computing to facilitate easy access of data, security threats have also trebled. Ethical hacking training course providers have to re-evaluate the programs to address the new forms virus and bugs will be taking.

The Looming Threat

As per a report by the Government Accountability Office, USA, variants of malicious software for mobile devices has risen from 14,000 to 40,000 in under a year. The ease with which one can carry, modify data and open data sensitive applications makes it a ticking time bomb. Smartphones are a storehouse for more personal details than any device. It has personal details, financial details and even business details, including images, videos, passwords. Most of the mobile devices run on an open source operating system, with patchy anti-virus software, posing a considerable security risk. Even the mobile applications may not escape scrutiny of cyber threats.

The Common threats

The primary threat comes from weak passwords and authentication measures. The use of passwords and PINs that are easy to remember are easy to break, and hence the most commonly encountered problem. The second common threat comes from the use of wireless network for mobile internet. Since many applications do not encrypt the data that is being transmitted, it is easily intercepted over the network. A lot of risk may be lurking in the device itself in the form of malware, outdated technologies and operating system among others.

Managing Risks and reaping the reward

Cyber security courses that specially tackles mobile device hacking will soon be needed to study the specific problems of mobile security. Mobile data is of a dynamic nature, in fact, even mobile devices have to be frequently upgraded or updated. Further, there are four layers of security - the device, application, the network and back-end system. Security measures at all levels have to be transparent and must not hinder productivity. After all, the advantage of mobile devices lies in their ability.

An ethical hacking training course by a certified organization will have the latest updates to deal with complex scenarios created through device interactions in an insecure environment.