Cybersecurity company McAfee shed light on the increasing challenges that will come with IoT, 5G, and AI during its Mobile World Congress press event today. The company also announced that its strengthening its partnership with the South Korean behemoth Samsung to step up security on the recently released Galaxy S10 smartphones, and with Türk Telekom to ensure a safe online experience for families. The security expert has also revealed its latest Mobile Threat Report which details how cybercriminals are adapting their tactics according to the changing landscape.
With the proliferation of technology, consumers are increasingly dependent on their electronic device. Smart technology is now being utilized by many, which means various devices such as security cameras, smart TVs, and voice assistants are interconnected. Although this translates into convenience for users, it also makes them more vulnerable to cyber threats as nefarious actors can gain access to various devices by breaking into just one.
McAfee says that cybercriminals are on a lookout to maximize their profit by accessing commonly used IoT devices such as voice assistants. Moreover, malicious actors are also taking advantage of people’s dependency on smartphones to mine cryptocurrency.
McAfee’s Global Threat Intelligence was able to detect 65,000 fake apps in December 2018, up 55,000 from June 2018. Apart from fake apps, backdoors and banking Trojans all increased substantially last year and this year the problem is expected to exacerbate, as malware would presumably extend across all devices. Since app stores have upped their security levels, cybercriminals are trying to bypass them and target customers directly.
Needless to say, consumers need to be diligent when installing apps and following links. Per McAfee Mobile Threat Report 2019, fake apps are a threat to look out for this year. Apart from that, backdoors would also be a prominent threat as cybercriminals would look for ways to gain access to a multitude of smart devices. Cryptomining heists would continue and Android devices would be particularly vulnerable because of their increasing popularity. Spyware attacks are also expected to remain rampant as cybercriminals try to gather intel on power users.
McAfee has reasserted its resolve to help consumers take the required precautions to stay safe online. The company will continue its partnership with Samsung and extend its support to the Galaxy S10 to help users combat cyber threats. Moreover, the company is also going to provide support for Samsung Secure Wi-Fi service by offering backend infrastructure. This will safeguard users from phony Wi-Fi. Additionally, the security of other Samsung devices, such as PCs, notebooks, and smart TVs would also be increased under this partnership.
McAfee will also strengthen its partnership with Turkey’s largest fixed broadband ISP, Türk Telekom. In addition to providing cross-device security protection, the security company would offer its Safe Family solutions to Türk Telekom that come with robust parental controls to help parents ensure that their children are safe online.
From malvertising to botnets, cyberthreats show no sign of slowing down this year and with the increasing interconnectivity between various IoT devices, the stakes are higher than ever. That’s why it’s paramount that companies try to build digital trust and abide by cybersecurity practices to ensure consumer security is not compromised in any way. And of course, consumers must also do their bit such as staying updated with the latest software upgrades and investing in a router with embedded security features.