Which Mobile Phones Are Most Often Attacked?

In today's information age, a large amount of personal and business data is now stored on mobile phones. Smartphones have essentially become your own miniature PC that goes with you wherever you go. At the same time, this creates even more targets for malicious software. To make matters worse, many mobile phones are not equipped with the best anti-virus software on the market.

Smartphones

Smartphones have become the industry standard for popular mobile phones, allowing you to not only talk on the go, but also to bring the internet with you. Through a mobile phone with a data plan, you can effectively access your email, peruse your Facebook account and browse the internet. Because these smartphone devices accesses the internet just like your computer does, they can be equally vulnerable to viruses and malware, if not even more so.

Some mobile phones come with basic forms of anti-virus protection, but because these phones operate on a mobile operating system, they are protected against numerous threats. Much of the malicious content out there is programmed for standard computer operating systems like Windows.

However, a growing trend indicates that mobile phones are greatly at risk. You're likely familiar with the telltale signs for when your computer has become infected with a virus. Similar signs exist on smartphones, though they may be more subtle. Cybercriminals have become adept at being sneaky in the delivery of malicious content and can disguise viruses as legitimate apps. Malware can be hidden in calendar apps, SMS text messages or even in app updates (such as fake Angry Birds updates). There are numerous ways in which spyware can infiltrate your smartphone, which makes it essential that you become very cautious about what you install on mobile phones.

Android OS

The Android operating system used by many mobile phones has garnered a reputation as one of the most popular mobile operating systems on the market. The popular Droid smartphones have unfortunately also become the most popular target for spyware developers, which means your phone's data is at even greater risk than your computer.

Apple iOS

The operating system for Apple's famed iPhone has historically been unaffected by malicious content. However, since the outbreak of fake anti-virus software, Apple has become an increasing target for cybercriminals. Due to the influx of fake security software, this is merely paving the way toward the infiltration of the mobile phones market for Apple. While the iPhone and its users have remained safe in previous years, this is likely to change with time.

As mobile phones become more and more common among consumers, the threat of malicious software will continue to rise. While you may feel safe in the content you download or the websites you visit, cybercriminals are becoming increasingly clever in how they disguise their viruses. So, before you download that app from the app store, read the reviews and consider how many times it's been downloaded. This may protect your phone in the long run.

Information found through the "McAfee Threats Report: Second Quarter."

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