Verizon: Mobile security threats are on the rise
The emergence of Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies is contributing to an expanded mobile threat environment.
The growing usage of IoT devices and sensors and capability of AI to support sophisticated cyberattacks pose significant challenges to mobile security, according to new Verizon Business 2024 Mobile Security Index. Retail respondents to a survey of more than 600 people responsible for security strategy, policy and management provided the following data:
- More than 31% of retail respondents use IoT for supply chain logistics and optimization and 26% use IoT for retail inventory transactions.
- More than three-quarters (77%) of respondents believe that AI-assisted attacks like deep-fakes and SMS phishing are likely to succeed.
- Eighty-four percent of retail respondents increased their mobile device security spending over the past year.
According to previous NordVPN analysis of hacker chatter, concerns over AI are justified as hackers have said they will likely use AI to improve the spelling and grammar of phishing emails, making it easier for hackers to convince their victims to engage with malicious links and attachments.
NordVPN also expects hackers to continue using AI-generated deepfake videos to duplicate the faces and voices of celebrities to endorse scams.
Other notable findings
In addition, the Verizon Business survey finds that:
- Eight-in-10 overall respondents consider mobile devices critical to their operations, while 95% are actively using IoT devices.
- In critical infrastructure sectors, 96% of respondents report using IoT devices, more than half state that they have experienced severe security incidents that led to data loss or system downtime.
- Eighty-four percent of all respondents have increased their mobile device security spending over the past year, with 89% of critical infrastructure respondents planning further increases.
- Almost nine-in-10 (88%) critical infrastructure respondents acknowledge the growing importance of AI-assisted cybersecurity solutions.
[READ MORE: Verizon: Online security incidents reach new high in 2023]
"These findings highlight the continued friction that employers face as more and more work is done on personal mobile devices," said Phil Hochmuth, research VP, enterprise mobility at IDC, in commentary provided to Verizon. "This is why we are seeing more and more employers move from a pure bring-your-own-device model to employer provided devices where CIOs can have greater governance to protect critical infrastructure from cyberattacks."
