Smartphones ‘increasingly targeted by cybercriminals’

Published on 23 January 2012.

It is no longer just PCs that need data security protection, as smartphones are increasingly at risk, it has been claimed.

Individuals have been warned that it is no longer just their PCs that need protecting against data security attacks.

Norton security expert Simon Ellson explained how cybercriminals are constantly evolving their methods in order to keep up with the latest technology.

He described how they will “tweak their attacks” to follow current trends “whether it’s a popular topic on Twitter they can poison search engine results on, or a new mobile application”.

The evolution of technology makes people increasingly vulnerable, it was noted, with smartphone users advised they are steadily becoming the main focus for many cybercriminals.

However, Mr Ellson claimed systems such as the Norton Mobile Security Lite offer individuals a “simple and free” way to protect their devices against phishing scams.

Senior vice-president of international sales at Entrust Mark Reeves recently commented how apps are a key way in which viruses can be transferred to a phone.

Posted by Otto Greenberg