As mobile devices reshape the way we live, communicate and share information, equipment manufacturers and software developers will have to beef up the security of these devices. The total active number of smartphones worldwide is expected to hit nearly 2 billion by the end of this year. This has led to security firms expecting that there will be a considerable rise in malware and other forms of attack oriented at mobile devices.
Even as existing mobile platforms grow and newer ones come up, there are still many gaping holes in security in many of these platforms. For instance, there have been a considerably large number of malware attacks on devices running the Android operating system. However, in the present scenario, simply switching over to another platform does nothing to alleviate the issue. Even Apple’s iOS is susceptible to similar security issues.
The necessity of improving cyber security is rising day-by-day. As manufacturers introduce more innovative technologies to make life easier for the user, the security risks posed are also rising. However, manufacturers seem to be more interested in introducing new technology than in ensuring its safe use. Even though some measures are being introduced, these are still small steps, far from the giant leaps that are needed. The users do have the responsibility of protecting their personal and confidential information, but they cannot be blamed if there are lapses in the basic ecosystem.
State governments and their agencies have also stepped in, with the State of California laying out guidelines to mobile app developers in order to protect the privacy of the user. The Federal Trade Commission intervened in the case of HTC and reached a settlement requiring the manufacturer to undergo independent security audits for 20 years.
The industry needs to make security their top priority if it does not want to be policed by government agencies. User authentication systems must be overhauled, as the matter of ensuring that a user is indeed the person he claims to be is of the utmost importance. It is also important to make sure that the users are aware of the potential risks of their negligent actions. There have been several calls for standardization across the industry. This can only be achieved by a substantial increase in cooperation between manufacturers, who, apart from fighting over patents, should also focus on making their devices secure to use.
