Here’s something crazy: 44 percent of people conducted in this certain survey said they open messages and attachments on their mobile devices from unknown sources. While part of this may be caused by ignorance, it sounds like the main problem has to do with people unable to read the small screens on their mobile devices. The problem is you can bet thieves and hackers will take full advantage of this vulnerability. The solution: educate mobile users on how to differentiate legitimate from fraudulent material on their mobile devices. While this idea is definitely not a cure-all solution, it is most certainly a start in the right direction.

Some 44 percent of those surveyed said that they have opened messages or attachments from unknown sources. Part of the problem is that 76 percent of those interviewed said that they have a hard time differentiating such messages from legitimate content. The smaller screen size of handheld devices was cited as a primary contributor to the problem.

Experts said that educating end-users will play the most important role in righting the existing issues of perception over mobile security because the biggest problems are related to process, versus tangible threats, at this point.

“While this study shows mobility provides businesses with new risks, so do other Internet services and new technologies,” Ron Teixeira, executive director of NCSA, said in a report summary. “Mobility and the Internet can be used securely and safely if businesses institute a culture of security within their workforce by providing their employees with continuous cyber security awareness and education programs.”[more]

Tags: Mobile Security