Australians fail to keep their smartphones secure despite dramatic rise in mobile malware

OUR mobile phones can be targeted by up to 100 malware threats per hour, but few of us take security seriously. Here’s what you can do to keep your mobile safe.

AUSTRALIANS are targeted by up to 100 malware threats per hour on their smartphones and yet two thirds admit they do not have any security software on their phones.

New research released today shows that 14 million Aussies do not bother with extra security steps on their smartphones despite five per cent having had their phones infected by malicious malware in the past quarter.

The national survey conducted by Intel Security to launch Stay Smart Online Week found that 60 per cent of Australians view their smartphones as “priceless” and more than a third would rather have their wallet stolen than have a thief take their smartphone.

The survey found particular risks for those who use their work phones at home, with nearly four in ten parents admitting they hand over their work devices to their kids to play with.

Security experts report that malware aimed at infecting smartphones has risen dramatically this year.

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Intel Security Solutions Architect Andy Hurren warned the “worst of the worst” mobile malware gave a hacker full access to an infected phone with an ability to do everything from read email and make phone calls to revealing passwords.

The Intel Security report issued last month recorded mobile malware has skyrocketed 151 per cent in the past year.

Trend Micro also last week released a report into smartphone security that noted the recent spread of DressCode, a malicious app that can infiltrate company networks to obtain sensitive data and launch digital espionage attacks.

The Trend Micro report warned it had found DressCode in 400 apps in the Google Play app store and in 3000 apps in third-party app stores.

While malware is more common on the Android app store, Apple in August was forced to issue a security fix for a new technique for taking over an iPhone remotely, intercepting every message and phone call and tracking the user’s location.

Five tips for keeping your smartphone safe

1. Create unique and strong passwords for every device and use biometric security such as fingerprint ID on your smartphone.

2. Keep your smartphone’s operating system and your apps up to date to ensure you get the latest security patches.

3. Only download apps from trusted app stores.

4. Use a password vault to keep your list of unique passwords encrypted. Never write a password down on paper.

5. Use multi-factor authentication, so that logging on to your cloud services requires two forms of identification such as a password and a code you then receive by text message.

Originally published as Australians fail to keep their smartphones secure despite dramatic rise in mobile malware