Network-level security to be on government and operator agendas in 2015
Mobile Malware and IoT set to define new mobile security challenges
DUBLIN & DALLAS — December 17, 2014 — AdaptiveMobile (www.adaptivemobile.com) today outlined the top mobile security trends for 2015, based on its unrivalled insight into mobile operator networks. AdaptiveMobile is deployed in nine out of the top ten* mobile operator groups globally, protecting over 1.3 billion subscribers from mobile security threats. AdaptiveMobile’s unique big data analysis capabilities witness over 30 billion mobile events every day from every region of the globe – the equivalent of 10.9 trillion events per year.
Operators’ focus will return to securing the network core, as privacy concerns converge with security
Undoubtedly one of the biggest security stories of the year was the Edward Snowden leaks which firmly brought core network surveillance into the spotlight. The line between what represents an invasion of privacy and national security is blurred in the minds of most consumers. Mobile operators are coming under increasing scrutiny and consumers are starting to ask valid questions regarding their privacy. In 2015, we expect to see much greater focus on the part of MNOs in securing their own networks to deliver this reassurance to their subscribers.
As governments step up the fight against spam, intergovernmental co-operation will become more important
Preventing messaging spam is not the sole responsibility of the MNOs. We’re now seeing governments are getting increasingly involved and in 2014 the Canadian government introduced anti-spamming legislation – a welcome development that gives subscribers more confidence to report suspected spam attacks they receive, and gives operators additional information to more aggressively detect, defend against and pursue spammers on their network.
With the Chinese government set to introduce anti-spam legislation of its own in 2015, governments will have to co-operate to address the internationalisation of spammer networks. Chinese spammers have already taken to spamming China from outside the country’s borders thanks to current requirements by the Chinese government to register all phones using real identities and the ready availability of handsets and tariffs with favourable international SMS rates abroad. Fighting spam has to be an international, joined-up effort that will require co-operation of governments, regulators and international organisations.
The Internet of Things will require greater network-level awareness to prevent security issues
The growth in IoT services and devices will drive an upsurge in application-to-person (A2P) messaging traffic. This in itself is positive for operators looking to generate new revenue streams. However, with all of these additional unattended devices active in the network, steps must be taken to secure them. While at present subscribers play an active role in spam prevention by reporting incidents to their operators, with IoT the challenge will be spotting the threats that can infect IoT devices. ‘Things’ are going to be less security and spam-aware than consumers and so the responsibility will fall on the operator to secure IoT services and devices at the network-level.
Mobile Malware will continue to bring across security concepts from the fixed line world
As expected, Mobile Malware hit a new level of sophistication in 2014. Two new worms of note surfaced, Selfmite and Koler, both of which used SMS redirects to achieve their aims by self-propagating itself through legitimate advertising platforms and contacts saved in a device’s contact book. The impact of Selfmite.b on SMS traffic was such that just 200 or so infected devices could quickly ramp up to the tens of thousands of text messages.
The rise of ransom-based monetisation strategies with Koler where infected phones become blocked by a fake law enforcement notification aimed at scaring victims into paying to have the block removed saw a new level of sophistication in the threat. The combination of new propagating and monetisation techniques seen in 2014 making Mobile Malware a growing threat in the year ahead.
About AdaptiveMobile:
AdaptiveMobile is the world leader in mobile security protecting over one billion subscribers worldwide and the only mobile security company offering products designed to protect all services on both fixed and mobile networks through in-network and cloud solutions. With deep expertise and a unique focus on network-to-handset security, AdaptiveMobile’s award winning security solutions provide its customers with advanced threat detection and actionable intelligence, combined with the most comprehensive mobile security products available on the market today. AdaptiveMobile’s sophisticated, revenue-generating security-as-a-service portfolio empowers consumers and enterprises alike to take greater control of their own security.
AdaptiveMobile was founded in 2004 and boasts some of the world’s largest mobile operators as customers and the leading security and telecom equipment vendors as partners. The company is headquartered in Dublin with offices in the North America, Europe, South Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
