Why mobile security is more important than ever

In case you haven’t heard, this week has been National Cyber Security Awareness Week, and while we haven’t spent as much time informing you of the various tips as we normally do, it’s the last day of the week, and we feel the need to point out one of the best reasons to stay aware.

That reason is mobile technology.

We all have it, and regardless of whether you choose to call your touchscreen phone “smart,” this is a piece of technology that you likely carry around all the time, surf websites on, share data, and access important parts of your life.

For many of us, this has replaced the computer as being the most connected part of our environment, and that means more sensitive information is being pushed through this channel, which means you have to be aware of mobile security more than ever.

“Australians are becoming increasingly dependent on their mobile devices and not only are mobiles susceptible to threats but there is a high probability that they will be lost or stolen,” said David Hall, Symantec’s Senior Director of Product Marketing for Norton.

“With the amount of personal and financial information stored or accessed by Australians every day via mobile devices, it is imperative that they look to protect the stuff that matters most to them.”

You probably don’t think about it, but there is a ton of information about you stored on your phone, with much of it being related to email accounts, passwords, saved logins, and possibly even credit card information.

If this fell into the wrong hands, the results could be disastrous, with the consequences being far more serious than just a few extra phone calls on your bill and the need to purchase a new handset.

There are, however, various forms of mobile security software which can help to alleviate this, wiping your phone of all data if the phone is ever lost or stolen, making it a must have for mobile owners.

Physical theft, though, is just one problem you have to contend with.

“At Symantec, we’re seeing increased attention on the mobile space, both from attackers and security researchers,” said Hall.

“The latest Symantec Internet Security Threat Report found that mobile malware increased by 58 percent in 2012, and 32 percent of all mobile threats steal information. As tablet adoption and smartphone market penetration continues, this will attract more criminals.”

Obviously, the best way to stay secure from online threats is to stay offline, but in a world where being online is more or less required for anything, that is next to impossible, and that means mobile security is a requirement for us all.