Business users, youth and millennials are among those with the highest risk for encountering mobile malware, according to a new report from security solutions company Allot Communications.
The report, which analyzed mobile data records from a random sample of 500,000 mobile users during a 7-day period across the Android, iOS and Windows Phone operating systems, found 79 percent of businessmen and 67 percent of businesswomen use potentially malicious apps each day. That group was trailed closely by male youth and millennials, which each recorded 65 percent use of risky apps each day.
The group with the least risky behavior was female non-business Gen X and Baby Boomer users, with a risk rate of 23 percent.
The report also found that the potential for malware increases in apps that allow file-sharing of any kind.
Though the report showed that individual behavior is a significant factor in mobile malware risk, it suggests that service providers are best positioned to put preventative measures in place at the network level.
“Our MobileTrends findings clearly show that safeguarding users at the network level would be the most effective method for protecting against multiple types of mobile threats, as the security measures can provide a protective umbrella for all online activity,” said Allot Communications’ AVP of Marketing Yaniv Sulkes. “Mobile operators are perfectly positioned to provide protection to consumers and businesses. We see a golden opportunity for mobile operators to identify and reach out to customers at risk, targeting them with personalized Security-as-a-Service from their network or cloud.”
Filed Under: Apps
