Carriers, developers, and phone makers are rolling out new services and features to protect mobile devices from malicious attacks and data breaches. As people increasingly use smartphones for email, banking, and document access, the wireless industry is addressing mobile device security.
According to Chris Knotts, vice president of technology and innovation at IT consulting company Force 3, there is a "consumerization of IT," where more employees use personal mobile devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets for work purposes. IT administrators recognize that mobile devices are here to stay and need to be secured against attacks and data breaches.
This effort extends beyond IT administrators. Carriers and phone makers are deploying new features and services to enhance mobile device security, as noted by the Wall Street Journal. Edward G. Amoroso, chief security officer of AT&T, stated, "Everyone is realizing that this is an uncontrolled environment. We don't want to have the same problems that we had with PCs."
Several security vendors predict various mobile threats will emerge in 2011. Researchers at Panda Security anticipate new attacks on mobile devices, particularly targeting Symbian- and Android-based phones, though not on a massive scale.
Many security features are already built into smartphone operating systems. Knotts highlighted the remote wipe feature, available in the latest Android OS, BlackBerry, and iPhone, as a key tool for preventing data breaches.
The increasing number of consumer devices used within enterprises will force companies to implement common security controls such as password policies, device locking, remote wipes, and hardware encryption, said Andrew Jaquith, CTO of Perimeter e-Security.
Some companies are already addressing these needs. Lookout, a mobile security provider, offers a free application for Android, BlackBerry, and Windows-based devices. This app allows users to remotely locate lost or stolen devices, back up data, and erase information. Lookout also blocks malicious apps and other mobile threats. The app's usage has grown from 2 million in September to 4 million this month. While the base version is free, a premium version is available for $3 per month.
Lookout recently featured in a Verizon Wireless commercial and has a marketing and distribution partnership with the carrier. This partnership enables Verizon to promote apps that protect customer phones. Jennifer Byrne, executive director of business development for Verizon Wireless, told the Wall Street Journal, "It is a real obvious problem we are solving."
AT&T has similar deals with McAfee, reselling its device management software, and with startup MobileIron. Knotts pointed out that "a phone is a computer, and you would not leave your personal PC unlocked in a public space." Although adding extra security steps can be inconvenient and unnatural, behavioral change is necessary for technology to be effective.
BlackBerry has always been security-conscious, featuring built-in encryption. Research In Motion (RIM) announced a free product called BlackBerry Protect in July. This tool lets users back up contacts and text messages, remotely locate or lock the BlackBerry, and perform a remote wipe. Additionally, IT administrators can control app downloads and data access on employees' phones.
The Wall Street Journal also mentioned Mocana, which sells security technology to chip makers like Intel to encrypt wireless data. This technology can detect and block malicious software and will eventually prevent employees from accessing data over a wireless network if they leave a certain area.
