One in six cell phone and tablet device users have fallen prey to a cyberattack, as indicated by a new study.
The study likewise found that 60% of cell phone clients and nearly 50% of tablet users are vulnerable to hacking as these gadgets have no protection against malicious programming.
These can be anything from phishing emails, which could bring about a fraudster assuming control over an online account, to ‘session hijacking’ attacks where a user’s web browsing is stopped, monitored or even hijacked, Yorkshire Post reported.
Numerous cell phone and tablet users have no protection against ‘malware’, programming designed specifically to harm or disrupt a system. This is despite almost half using cellular phones for web banking and one in three for web shopping.
Smartphone owners are dimly aware that their expensive devices could be targeted by mobile malware, the study noted.
When it comes to the world of mobile malware, earlier research has shown that the Android platform has become top attack vector for cybercriminals.
A recent report from Finland-based F-Secure Labs found that Android-targeted mobile malware samples accounted for 97 percent of all the new threats that emerged last year.
“This year has proved a tipping point for smartphones and tablets,” said Ori Eisen of Experian, a global information services company, which published the study.
“The rapid rise in demand for online banking and retail combined with very little security on devices has created a massive opportunity for cyber criminals leaving many people and businesses extremely vulnerable,” said Eisen.
