After manufactures started producing a much better mobile platform, we forget about the lacks and negative aspect. Today we work blindly on a Tablet PC or Smartphone. Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, etc are some of the most popular mobile platform which has given a new look to todays phone. Your phone is not just a calling device, but more than that. But as web expands and reaches to Smartphone the risk increased. Today devices running on Android are quiet prone to malware attack. We mostly find articles which discussion on features or benefits, but what about the vulnerability. A end users when buys a phone, blindly believe on the manufacturer for security stuff. They are not concerned about the development code used inside it. What they mostly look for is good features and output. Popular platform like Android offers you a Social Networking support. You can share your comments, view, videos, photos, easily with others on popular social support site.
You can upload files from your phone or download a number of apps and games. This makes it more featured. But to some extent there are threats which are hidden. They are not visible and are not at all easy to control. If we are aware about the same then certain precaution can protect us from facing severe issue. We had heard recently about some popular websites where affected. So this states that no one is clearly safe to 100%. Threats involved some due to bugs and some due to malpractices. Like Rooting, Jailbreaking, Unlocking, etc. You overwrite the factory software, giving access to any unknown person to capture your data and information. Under company policy end user is not eligible to make changes in the form firmware or software. Also whatever apps he/she download or install from third party will be their responsibility. Now Tablets has take quiet a good place among people. You get a bigger screen and better processor to perform number of actions.
We can shop online, we can surf and download stuff more easily. This article mostly talk about the threats and its impact. Mobile platform has now became a extensive way to interact with people. Ample of services what were on web are now available for Mobile also. Now we have to clearly discuss the impact. What thing we can face on this platform. Smartphones are those devices which are rich with Internet and app features. The most common example I can take is of Android. This OS has given birth to budget Smartphones whose feature can compare with costlier product. So here people has alternative to play tons of free games, rich applications and other customization stuff. You have a almost pc type interface on your phone. The file manager to browser the phone storage, wireless file transfer, video and audio support, etc.
App Market :
Every mobile operating system has a App Market. This App Market gives you single platform to find the most compatible app for your type of Mobile OS. You can blindly download and play many games, use applications and perform different stuff through it. Some of them are chargeable while some of them are free. Google Play is popular app market for Android. Recently there was news that Android App are vulnerable to malware attack. There are bugs and security holes which makes the applications more prone to attack. So your phone can freeze and face crash issue in future. I you keep confidential data in your phone you might loose that or that can be leaked instantly. Compared to other Android platform is the most unsecured. Now this was just about free apps. What about paid apps. On iOS app store there was a app recently which promise to unlock hidden feature of new iPhone OS. That was a fake app. I had visited many community which discussed on it.
They said that it does not at all. The user has to pay $1 to buy that. Now if that app stayed on App Market even for 10 hrs the developer behind it has accumulated quiet a good amount. In this way, many apps are designed to cheat people. The makers create a contract which bind the app with your telecom provider. So when you run, some charges are automatically deducted from your phone balance. This is not a new scenario. Everyday millions of people download apps from multiple app store. Some of them buy, while some of them look for free apps. This creates a huge traffic of people connected to those app servers. By default a number of app store ask for your creating a account to access the features. This account consist of your name, location and a valid login detail. This details allow you to access the app store and get apps for free. But to some extent if your device has a malware those information can be leaked very easily. Mostly there are three type of apps that work on a mobile platform. The first is native app which is installed in your phone system.
There are files and scripts which runs in the background. This files also connects with web to get more additional features. The second type if web based. It works on the basis of Internet connectivity or the default web browser. Web based application needs Internet support and they keep pulling data on continuous basis. For example a Facebook App. You have to login with your account and you can see updates from your profile. You can share stuff and do many things. And third type if a app that works in both way. They are installed as well as they Internet connection. No you can see that maximum apps user your Internet connection. You can find a easy add on your screen or a score update option after playing game. If you click you are redirected to a website. This things can be easily manipulated.
Malware :
Malware are the first prominent threat. They can enter is any form. Through a application or email attachment. Around a decade ago there were only virus. But now there are different types of virus. Malware is among one of them. A malware is type of malicious software. Assume that you had downloaded a ScreenSaver. Now this is a application. But this ScreenSaver can be loaded with malware, virus, Trojan, worms, etc. A Malware is package of all threat. The developer design the app in such a way that he integrates all the code inside a full functioning application. So when you launch that app you are running the threat also. People blindly download productive apps, games from App Market. But they are not sure about the security.
A number of time we heard most commonly on news, that due to some app, a number of devices are affected. Once this app is inserted in your phone, it capture your data and leak on web. Through this malicious code the attacker can also user your phone connection. Malware has become one the most common threat for mobile platform. Second thing, the mobile operating system does not comes with any inbuilt security software. This software code one modified or changed can easily be overwritten by malicious tools. One free app is downloaded by millions of people and so the number of people get affected blindly.
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Re: Top Mobile Threats and Impacts
Originally Posted by bond19
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