In a new look at security risks for mobile device users, Allot Communications found that business customers with heavy mobile use are most at risk for mobile malware threats. Allot found that 79% if businessman and 67% of businesswomen use potentially risky apps each day, including social media, file sharing and video conferencing applications.
The report was conducted based on analysis of a random sample of half a million mobile customers over the course of a week, using iOS, Android and Windows operating systems; and was done in partnership with security company Kapersky Lab. Allot looked at behavior profiles of customers and the two companies categorized the top 500 URLs visited and the top 500 apps used in terms of potential risk.
Most mobile device users don’t protect their devices against malware, and Allot noted that although app downloads may be secure, the apps’ ongoing use generally is not. Allot concluded that it makes the most sense to provide security at the network level, and the study focused in part on “whether we can segment subscribers and look at their risky behavior, and tailor them with the right engagement profile around security offers,” according to Yaniv Sulkes, AVP of marketing for Allot.
Among the findings:
- Apps were riskier than websites. Allot found that only about 3 in 30 mobile browser interactions were considered risky for malware — often because mobile web functionality is limited, Sulkes said, whereas apps support much more information and file sharing, peer-to-peer messaging, links to click on and in-app browsing. Allot found that 1 in 7 mobile app sessions were risky.
- The most risky apps included peer-to-peer file sharing; email; web conferencing applications (due to the ability to message, send links and share files); file storage and sharing apps; and remote administration.
- Gambling sites were by far the riskiest to visit, followed distantly by shopping and e-commerce sites and navigation URLs. Only about 3% of URLs were considered risky, compared to 14% of apps.
- There was a significant gender gap, with men at more risk for mobile malware than women. In the case of businessmen, they tended to use over-the-top storage services, used a wide variety of apps and sites, and had the most transactions for travel-related services.
- Heavy users, such as business users of both genders, were at more risk. Allot found that 20% of business people’s daily use involved potentially risky apps. However, the company added, “mobile users at risk are not necessarily people who use only and even mostly potentially risky apps and websites. In fact, our research shows that malware risk increases as online activity increases in general.”
Based on its segmentation, Allot said that its findings suggest opportunity for carriers in offering tailored security-as-a-service options for business users, parents of young users and Millenial males (who are likely to be most interested in ad blockers and anti-malware bundled into data packages).
“The report shows is that we’ve proven that human behavior is highly relevant to one’s risk in using one’s mobile device,” Sulkes said. “Service providers should look at that and think about how they deliver security services to their users.”
