Debunking Five Myths About Mobile Security

Mobile security is a critical concern for enterprises. However, several myths surrounding mobile security could be putting your organization at risk. I’ve identified and debunked the top five myths about mobile security and explained how to safeguard your enterprise with clarity and confidence.

Myth 1: All Android and iOS devices are inherently secure

While Android and iOS have built-in security features, they are not immune to threats. The security of mobile devices heavily depends on regular updates, user behavior, supply chain and other factors outside the control of the device manufacturers. Even the most secure operating systems can be compromised by unpatched vulnerabilities or malicious apps.

Recommendation:

Mobile devices cannot be inherently trusted, and their risk posture changes daily. Although traditional mobile security solutions have evolved, they have been unable to keep up with the device’s dynamic risk posture. Zimperium allows organizations to embrace adaptive security with its Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) and MAPS Solution. With its MTD solution, devices are assessed in real time, threats are contained on-device, access is disabled through an EMM, and downstream mitigation workflows are triggered via SIEM/SOAR systems.  

Myth 2: App stores are responsible for preventing malware and protecting my mobile app

While app stores screen for malicious apps, they cannot guarantee the security of your app or prevent other apps from exhibiting malicious behavior. Often, malicious code is downloaded and activated only after the app starts running on the device,bypassing app store policies. Additionally, app stores don’t typically scan for actions like data exfiltration or unauthorized data sharing with countries such as Russia and China, which presents another layer of risk for app developers and users alike. 

Recommendation:

Mobile app developers must take ownership of their app’s security by integrating robust security measures throughout the application’s lifecycle. They need to help identify vulnerabilities during development and ensure they can protect themselves on app stores. Zimperium’s zScan offers rapid, automated penetration tests for each build, ensuring critical vulnerabilities are detected and addressed promptly without slowing down releases. zScan also helps assess whether the app is adequately hardened to prevent reverse-engineering and tampering.

Myth 3: Server-side security is enough 

Mobile apps access, store and process sensitive data directly on the device, leaving it vulnerable to theft. Relying only on server-side security solutions, like network traffic inspection and identity verification, isn’t enough to secure mobile apps and their data. Mobile devices and emulators can easily spoof traffic, bypassing these defenses. And with today’s advanced techniques, most apps can’t recognize when they are running or jailbroken, rooted or even emulators. This creates a significant blind spot for traditional EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) systems, especially when advanced attacks like data exfiltration, mishing, or OTP hijacking occur entirely on the device. 

Recommendation:

To effectively secure mobile devices and apps, enterprises need to implement mobile-specific security solutions that go beyond server-side protections. This includes on-device security measures such as app hardening, mobile threat defense (MTD) and runtime application self-protection (RASP). These technologies detect and mitigate threats directly on the device, preventing traffic spoofing, tampering and unauthorized access. By combining both server-side and on-device security, enterprises can create a more comprehensive defense against sophisticated mobile threats.

Myth 4: MDMs and MAMs are synonymous with Mobile Security

MDMs and MAMs primarily help provision and manage devices and apps with some basic security, but they do not provide protection against advanced mobile attacks. Once a device is compromised most of these mechanisms can be bypassed.

Recommendation:

Together, MDM and Zimperium MTD can simplify mobile security for enterprises. MTD acts as a comprehensive security sensor for advanced threats across multiple vectors. Integrating threat detection with MDM helps determine when access needs to be reduced, revoked and reinstated, in real-time. The MTD solution can be deployed with minimal to no user interaction to MDM-enrolled devices. With this comprehensive endpoint security strategy organizations are able to protect corporate data, meet compliance standards, and achieve 100% user adoption, ensuring employees stay protected from mobile risks.

Myth 5: Protecting work email is enough to prevent Smishing, Phishing and more 

Mobile phishing (mishing) threats extend far beyond your work email, targeting users through SMS (smishing), voice calls (vishing), QR code phishing (Quishing) and malicious websites. What’s more, Phishing that only executes when activated on a mobile device is becoming very common.  Zero-Trust strategies for mobile devices must consider all these various vectors to truly protect the enterprise.

Recommendation: 

To protect from all types of mishing, you need security solutions extending beyond your work apps on your device. Zimperium’s Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) is able to protect users regardless of whether an attacker uses email, SMS, QR codes or in-app messaging.

Conclusion

Debunking these common myths is vital for building a strong mobile security strategy. Understanding the realities behind these misconceptions empowers your organization to take informed and proactive steps in securing mobile devices.

Stay vigilant and informed. Mobile security is an ongoing process that requires continuous attention and action. Ready to fortify your mobile security strategy? Book a consultation with our experts to get personalized advice and solutions tailored to your business needs.

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*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Blogs Archive - Zimperium authored by Krishna Vishnubhotla. Read the original post at: https://www.zimperium.com/blog/debunking-five-myths-about-mobile-security/