Mobile Apps Snoop On Your Location Way More Than You Think!

Lots of people have "no idea," that their location is being tracked!

A Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist recently studied how much the average mobile app user really knows about the rampant sharing of personal data. The study also looked at the impact this knowledge would have on behavior - in other words, how many people would chose to change app settings on their smartphones after learning how much data that app is collecting?

Twenty-four Android users were shown which apps were accessing their data and how often. One user, for instance, found his location data had been shared 5,398 times by 10 apps within 14 days. Just one of these apps, Groupon, checked in on the user's whereabouts 1,600 times over that 2-week window.

Fifty-eight percent of the study participants took action, specifically changing their app settings, upon learning of this rampant sharing of personal details. The other 40 percent, likely representative of the rest of the world, did nothing. That's probably because apps don't often allow users to pick and choose the data they are willing to share. 

As John Zorabedian wrote on Sophos' Naked Security, "...without the ability to change app permissions on a granular level, users are left with little choice - you can either use the app or not."

The next time you are tempted to download an app, pay careful attention to the permissions screen. Are you willing... really... to share the information they want with potentially hundreds or thousands of others, to use as they want? Is the reward that app promises worth the risk?

Three Fast 'Data Privacy Day' Tips

In advance of the annual international Privacy Data Day, please share these three action tips to protect the privacy of consumers and businesses:

• Nothing is truly free, including mobile apps. Be aware of the personal information you give mobile app providers. Many free apps sell your information to a wide range of companies, some of which may have malicious intents. Studies have shown most apps do not have many, or even any, security controls built in. Check privacygrade.org to see if the app you want respects your privacy and has security built in.
   
• Be cautious with new "smart" devices. A wide range of new and unique gadgets -- from socks to smart cars -- connects you directly to other entities (and even to the Internet) to automatically share information about your activities, location and personal characteristics. Before using such devices, make sure you know which data they are collecting, how it will be used and with whom it will be shared.
   
• Only share personal information with trusted sources. Be extra careful not to share sensitive personal information, such as social security numbers, credit card numbers and driver's license numbers. Don't do business with an entity that does not have a posted privacy notice.

Be Mindful - Does Mobile Apps Respect Your Privacy?

'Stickybeak' Apps Threaten User Privacy 

Not surprisingly, a new report has found mobile apps are failing to provide users with basic privacy protections.

The report's authors put the failures they detected into three basic categories. Sixty percent of the apps they studied either:

• Did not disclose how they used personal information
• Required the user to give up an excessive amount of personal data
• Communicated privacy policies in type too small to be read on a phone's screen

As the Wall Street Journal points out in this blog post, it's not currently required for apps to have a privacy policy. However, we may soon see changes in this area of the law, especially where health apps are concerned. Currently, there are more than 100,000 health-related apps just available via smartphones.

Be mindful of any app that does not include a privacy policy, and train yourself not to just hit "Accept" on those data-gathering permission requests that pop up after you download a new one.

You should absolutely understand what you are being asked to give up to take advantage of the app. Is it worth it?

Why You Need Security Strategy and How to Develop one?

Some questions we need to address before we embark on Information Security Improvement journey!

Edward Snowden’s leaks to the press, we now know that there has been systematic, broad and deep surveillance of online activity at a scale that could not have been previously imagined. Beyond simply snooping, the revelations pointed to infiltration of the hardware and software we rely on to secure our communications.

When it comes to policies and strategies, it’s hard to go past the tried and tested ways of the past. The best way to make a start is by doing SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. 

Strengths
Look within your organisation. There are bound to be some really good things happening when it comes to Information Security. For example, you might have a very well-educated workforce that never open unexpected attachments. Or your IT team is very conscious of the potential threats to your business and have solid systems and processes in place to deal with them.

Weaknesses
Over the last 15 years, the focus of security in enterprises has been on vulnerability tracking and making sure that your systems are protected from external attacks. While that’s still important, it should only be one facet of your total security strategy. Have you considered what happens once someone gets past your firewalls and other blocking mechanisms? Or if the attack starts from within?

Give some consideration in your strategy to dealing with attacks once they are in action. Are your people ready to react once there is a breach? Are they across the latest threats and attack vectors?

Perhaps the most often seen security weakness (in our observation) is that managing compliance with the security policy is seen as an annual project that’s executed in order to keep auditors happy.

If that’s the case in your business, look for ways to alter that culture.

Opportunities
Aside from using security as a way to get lots of shiny new gear into your server racks or to justify new services, getting your Information Security right can be a great chance to re-engage IT with the business. Look for ways to turn the security conversation into an opportunity to change service delivery. It’s also a great way to further the professional development of your staff.

If you have some strong skills in data analytics in the business, you might find you can give them a new challenge by engaging them in threat intelligence.

Employing red/blue team exercises regularly doesn’t just improve your security response but can be a great way to add some excitement to how you manage security.

Review existing systems and processes to find the security issues. You might find it becomes an opportunity to ditch an old legacy system that’s costing lots of time and resources to maintain.

Threats
Over the last year, it’s become apparent that the threats of last decade are really just background noise today. Sure, we need to keep our firewalls locked down and end-point protection up to date but what can you do when your hardware is compromised or a nation-state can break through your encryption?

These are real threats today. Stuxnet, back in 2010, compromised a nuclear power plant. It is believed by many that it was part of an attack by one government against another. Today, Snowden’s documents tell us that the NSA can intercept a massive array of data. And not just from enemies but from within friendly states.

• So, when was the last time you reviewed your security policy?
• Does it take into account new security mitigation techniques?
• Have you adjusted the skills in your business to manage changing attack methods?
• Is security a once-a-year audit activity?

What You May Need to Know about Your Smart TVs & Phones

Smart appliances may be too smart for our own good!

Take smart TVs, for instance. As this article illustrates, some of these new appliances are particularly vulnerable to hackers. Once compromised, the TVs allow access to account information, including login credentials (which owners may use for access to more than just their smart-TV account). Even scarier, hackers could gain access to front-facing cameras to see everything happening in the room where the TV is connected. Instead of you watching your favorite program, criminals may be watching you!   

As many people get new smartphones for holiday gifts, they will be tempted to sell their old devices. If you're one of them, keep this story, reported by a Virginia ABC affiliate, in mind.

McAfee online security expert Robert Siciliano did a little experiment; he purchased 30 different devices from craigslist, including laptops, notebooks, iPads and smartphones. "I asked every single person if they re-installed the operating system or reformatted the drive, and they all said yes," Siciliano said. "On more than half of the devices, I found enough information to steal identities or, in some cases, even get people into trouble." 

The takeaway? Be mindful that erasing your personal data from your devices requires more than a delete button.

Here's a good resource  for learning how to sufficiently wipe your smartphones, tablets, computers and more before handing them off to a stranger. 

10 defenses against smartphone theft

Thieves see mobile phones as easy cash. Take these 10 steps to defend yourself

10) Use security applications

Android phones and iPhones both come with security software. But that doesn't mean the software is active, or that third-party software might not help even more. If you have an Android phone, make sure you're using Android Device Manager or a third-party security software such as Lookout Security & Antivirus. If you have an iPhone, make sure Find My iPhone has been set up and activated.

9) Use a strong password

Too many people just give up when it comes to passwords, access codes, and PINs. They pick something such as "password" or "qwerty" or "1234." Raise the level of your game: Come up with a functional password generation recipe, then apply it to your devices and websites. You don't need a password manager. This is not rocket science.

8) Keep phone data handy

Write down your phone model number, serial number, and International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI). If your phone gets stolen, you'll want these numbers (along with your mobile carrier's support phone number) to help your carrier place your IMEI number on the GSMA IMEI blacklist. You can find your IMEI number in most phone settings menus by dialing *#06#, or by checking the battery compartment, if accessible.

7) Be aware of your surroundings

We've all seen them. People who meander down the sidewalk, staring at their phones, forcing others to take evasive action to avoid a collision. People chatting on phones oblivious to those nearby. People who set their phones down on cafe tables or on public transit seats. People who let their phones dangle from purse or pocket. Don't be one of these people.

6) React quickly if your phone is stolen

Report the theft to the local police. This will allow police to check websites that might be trying to unload your stolen phone and will provide you with a police report in case you want to make an insurance claim. Report the theft to your mobile carrier, so your phone service can be suspended and the phone's identifier can be blacklisted. Activate any applicable security software such as Find My iPhone or Lookout. You might also want to change your phone and app passwords, in case the thief was able to login and access some of the services you use through stored passwords. If you're really lucky, your phone's security software will help you recover your device.

5) Choose your phone to match your security expertise

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt recently insisted that Android phones are more secure than Apple's iPhone. That might be true if you're talking about recent-model Android phones with the Android 4.4 "KitKat" operating system. But security experts scoff at Schmidt's claim. The reality is that the majority of mobile malware affects Android devices.

In August, the FBI and DHS issued a report that found 79 percent of mobile malware affected Android devices, 19 percent affected Symbian devices, and less than 1 percent affected BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone devices. Android's troubles largely arise from the fact that as many as 44 percent of Android users worldwide rely on Android versions 2.3.3 to 2.3.7, which have known vulnerabilities.

So although it's possible to run Android securely, it requires more diligence. Choose BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone if you don't want to be proactive about security. Choose Android if you require the flexibility of a more-open ecosystem and are comfortable with the responsibility.

4) Choose your WiFi network carefully

Just because a WiFi network is visible and accessible doesn't mean it's safe. Use secure WiFi networks when possible. When there's no other option, avoid doing anything that involves authentication if you can. You never know who might be listening or intercepting unprotected network traffic.

3) Choose your apps and websites carefully

User behavior represents a major source of insecurity. If you can avoid downloading sketchy apps and visiting suspect websites, you will reduce your chances of acquiring malware. Security firm Trend Micro says it has analyzed 3.7 million Android apps and updates, and found 18 percent to be malicious, with an additional 13 percent categorized as high risk. Almost half of the malicious apps (46 percent) were acquired from Google Play, the company says.

2) Don't buy phone insurance

If the mobile carriers really are fighting pre-installed security software to sustain revenue from insurance premiums, you can fight back by refusing to participate. Carrying your expensive smartphone without an insurance net should also encourage you to guard your phone more carefully. Of course, you'll be wishing you had insurance when your phone slips from your pocket and fracture lines spread across the touchscreen.

1) Leave your phone at home

It's easier said than done. But you can't lose what you don't have. Shocking though it may be, people used to get by without mobile phones. Try it once in while, if only to highlight your device addiction.

Basic Tips To Protect Mobile Device

Mobile owners should pay attention to mobile device safety!

Mobile communication has never been this cool, from the traditional SMS and call features, we can now enjoy desktop experience via smartphones and tablets. However, aside from the health risks associated with excessive use of cell phones, the advent of mobile internet has raised the risks too.

It is common that most of us protect the hardware and exterior of our phones, but do not exert enough effort to protect the OS and contents of our phone from hackers, and strangers who can get hold of our misplaced or stolen smartphones.

Allow me to share with you some tips I thought will give basic protection so private photos or videos, debit/credit card credentials, and other private information will not be at the mercy of other people.

• Use password to open your phone, make a purchase and open a file (if available). The inconvenience it’ll bring is nothing compared to the risk involved.
• If available, activate the “find my phone feature” of your phone.
• If available, activate the feature that can remotely erase contents, or reset of your phone.
• If available, activate a “kids safety feature” of your phone- this will prevent your kids from accessing apps that are not kid appropriate, or accidentally altering the configuration of your phone or erase some data.
• If available, use an anti-virus solution for your phone
• Take precaution when connecting to public hotspots.
• Do not click links attached to an email, direct messages, or status updates in your timeline. Verify first w/ the sender. These links normally downloads a malware or give permission to hackers.

As a general safety reminder, do remember that the currency we use to pay for the “free” apps and games we download are the information associated w/ our account- these may include our location and contacts. Please read carefully the privacy policy and terms of service for each app.

iPhone 5S: A Biometrics Turning Point?

Future: Mobile Devices Will Boost Interest in Advanced Authentication

Apple's decision to include a fingerprint scanner in its new iPhone 5S is an important step toward bringing biometrics-based authentication into the mainstream. But there's still a long way to go before biometrics supplant usernames and passwords at the enterprise level.

Owners of the new phone can use a fingerprint to physically unlock their devices instead of using a numeric passcode. Apple will also let users confirm purchases from the iTunes store by swiping a finger on the sensor.

Apple have not yet revealed whether they will allow third-party developers to take advantage of the new TouchID fingerprint technology to build biometrics-based authentication into their apps. While TouchID is an important milestone toward getting users comfortable with using biometrics as an authentication credential, the technology has to expand beyond the Apple universe before it can truly be considered a game-changer or a significant security breakthrough.

Biometrics authentication is not new to the mobile space. Some laptop vendors, including Lenovo, have included fingerprint readers in their devices for several years. Plus, a number of smart phones and tablets already incorporate biometrics to authenticate users. And security vendor McAfee recently introduced an online file storage service that relies on voice recognition to authenticate users. But all of these vendors use closed, proprietary models, which has made it difficult for biometrics to gain traction in the marketplace.

Market penetration for PCs and laptops with fingerprint sensors is about 20 percent, according to the FIDO Alliance, an industry group focused on open standards for authentication. Even if a majority of iPhone users opt for the iPhone 5S, overall smart phone market penetration for fingerprint scanners will remain low, considering that research firm IDC estimates Apple has about 17 percent smart phone market share.

The iPhone's popularity and its reputation as a trendsetter could help more consumers feel comfortable with the idea of using fingerprint scanners on a regular basis. And once they are used to the idea of fingerprint scanners, other types of biometrics won't be far behind. TouchID is the "first example of the potential for large-scale mass-market mobile biometric authentication.

BYOD, Corporate-Owned or Hybrid Environments?

BYOD: Problem in the reality is smaller than it seems!

Companies nowadays wrestle with the decision of whether to give employees the freedom to use personal mobile devices to access corporate data, or issue secure, mobile devices.

The main issue of the BYOD concept is to deal with corporate control and user privacy and usually at the end of the day this concept can cost to the company more than buying corporate-owned mobile devices. You also have to deal with different OS versions, installed applications, rooted devices, etc. They are some great MDM out there, but no one can deal with the diversity world of mobile devices.

BYOD, Corporate-Owned or Hybrid Environments? That depends of the “type” of business you do, but the best way to start is to limit the access to the resources from mobile devices to those who they really need them. In this way at the end of the day you will find out, that the problem in the reality is smaller than it seem at the moment.

An interesting article about the cost, efficiency, productivity, risk and security implications of BYOD, Corporate-Owned and Hybrid Environments can be found on the following link http://goo.gl/7g0LL3.

5 Quick Lessons on Privacy

Privacy Matters - How Easily Someone Could Hack Into Your Life?

Being diligent about your personal privacy is a learned behavior. Often the best way to practice is to take a closer look at the every-day activities in which you and your friends, colleagues and family members take part. 

Below are some quick-hit resources that serve as good reminders of the privacy threats we are exposed to each day.

• A Quick Guide to YouTube Privacy 
• The Financial Dangers of Retailer Prepaid Cards
• Why Your WiFi May Be On, Even When It's Off
• Ramifications of Hacking a Friend's Facebook Account (not that you would do that anyway, right?)
• Just How Hackable Your Life Really Is (infographic)

Cybersecurity is a never-ending Tom and Jerry cartoon

The Coming Wave of Security Startups

The threat from cyber-intrusions seems to have exploded in just the last 18 months. Mainstream media now report regularly on massive, targeted data breaches and on the digital skirmishes waged among nation states and cybermilitants. Unlike other looming technical problems that require innovation to address, cybersecurity never gets solved.

The challenges of circuit miniaturization, graphical computing, database management, network routing, server virtualization, and similarly mammoth technical problems eventually wane as we tame their complexity. Like antibiotic-resistant bacteria, attackers adapt to our defenses and render them obsolete. As in most areas of IT and computing, innovation in security springs mostly from startup companies. Larger systems companies like Symantec, Microsoft, and Cisco contribute to the corpus of cybersecurity, but mostly acquire their new technologies from startups.

Government agencies with sophisticated cyberskills tend to innovate more on the offensive side. Anyone looking to found or invest in one of those small security companies destined for success should focus on the tsunami of change rocking the IT world known as cloud computing.

According to Forrester, the global market for cloud computing will grow more than sixfold this decade, to over a quarter trillion dollars. Cloud security, as it is known, is today one of the less mature areas of cloud computing, but it has already become clear that it will become a significant chunk of that vast new market. A Gartner report earlier this year predicted that the growth of cloud-based security services would overtake traditional security services in the next three years. Just like other software products, conventional security appliances are being replaced by cloud-based alternatives that are easier to deploy, cheaper to manage, and always up-to-date.

Cloud-based security protections can also be more secure, since the vendor can correlate events and profile attacks across all of its customers’ networks. This collaborative capability will be critical in the coming years as the private sector looks to government agencies like the National Security Agency for protection from cyberattacks. The cloud also enables new security services based on so-called big data, which could simply not exist as standalone products.

Companies like SumoLogic can harvest signals from around the Web for analysis, identifying attacks and attackers that couldn’t be detected using data from a single incident or source. These new data-centric, cloud-based security products are crucial to solving the challenges of keeping mobile devices secure. Most computers shipped today are mobile devices, and they make juicier targets than PCs because they have location and payment data, microphones, and cameras. But mobile carriers and employers cannot lock down phones and tablets completely because they are personal devices customized with personal apps. Worse, phones and tablets lack the processing power and battery life to run security processes as PCs do.

Cloud approaches to security offer a solution. Software-as-a-service security companies like Zscaler can scan our mobile data traffic using proxies and VPNs, scrubbing them for malware, phishing, data leaks, and bots. In addition startups like Blue Cava, Iovation, and mSignia using Big Data to prevent fraud by fingerprinting mobile devices. Cloud security also involves protecting cloud infrastructure itself. New technologies are needed to secure the client data inside cloud-based services against theft or manipulation during transit or storage.

Eventually it should become possible for cloud computing customers to encrypt and destroy data using their own encryption keys. Until they do, there is an opportunity for startups such as CipherCloud and Vaultive to sell encryption technology that is used by companies over the top of their cloud services to encrypt the data inside.

Lastly, cloud security also includes protecting against the cloud, which enables creative new classes of attack. For example, Amazon Web Services can be used for brute force attacks on cryptographic protocols, like that one German hacker used in 2010 to break the NSA’s Secure Hashing Algorithm. Attackers can use botnets and virtual servers to wage distributed denial of service attacks; and bots can bypass captcha defenses by crowdsourcing the answers. Cloud-based attacks demand innovative defenses that will likely come from startups.

For example, Prolexic and Defense.net (a company Bessemer has invested in) operate networks of filters that buffer their clients from cloud-based DDOS attacks. Cloud computing may open up enormous vulnerabilities on the Internet, but it also presents great opportunity for innovative cybersecurity. In the coming decade, few areas of computing will be as attractive to entrepreneurs, technologists, and investors.

Beware - Trojans on Google Play Infected Up to 25,000 Devices

Malicious Apps were designed to send text messages to premium numbers

Researchers at Russian anti-virus company Doctor Web recently uncovered three malicious Android apps on Google Play that install the Android.SmsSend Trojan, which sends text messages to premium numbers without the user's permission.

All three apps, which are audio players and a video player that displays adult content, were uploaded by a Vietnamese developer called AppStore Jsc.

According to Doctor Web, the apps have been installed between 11,000 and 25,000 times.

Each app asks the user for permission to download additional content, such as adult video clips in the case of the video app -- but that download the installs the Trojan.

"The program covertly sends short messages to the short number 8775 which is specified in the malware's configuration file," Doctor Web notes.

"It is noteworthy that this Trojan really does enable a user to view adult video clips. Apparently, the attackers implemented this feature to avoid unnecessary suspicion."

The Risk of Data on Mobile Devices & in the Cloud

Ponemon Institute research finds that 69% of respondents listed mobile devices as posing the greatest risk

A recent study by the Ponemon Institute, The Risk of Regulated Data on Mobile Devices and in the Cloud, sponsored by WatchDox, reveals a stunning need for improvement on managing the risks of mobile devices and cloud computing services.

The survey involved 798 IT and IT security practitioners in a variety of organizations including finance, retail, technology, communications, education, healthcare, and public sector, among others.

The study concluded that “[t]he greatest data protection risks to regulated data exist on mobile devices and the cloud.” 69% of respondents listed mobile devices as posing the greatest risk followed by 45% who listed cloud computing.

Some other key findings include:

• Only 16% of respondents said their organization knew how much regulated data “resides in cloud-based file sharing applications such as Dropbox, Box, and others.”
  
• Only 19% said their organization knew how much regulated data was on mobile devices.
  
• Only 32% believed their organizations to be “vigilant in protecting regulated data on mobile devices.” Nearly three quarters said that employees didn’t “understand the importance of protecting regulated data on mobile devices.”
  
• 43% of organizations allow “employees to move regulated data to cloud-based file sharing applications.”
  
• Although 59% of organizations permit employees to use their own mobile devices “to access and use regulated data,” only about a third have a bring your own device (BYOD) policy.
  
• In the past two years, the average organization had almost 5 data breaches involving the loss of theft of a mobile device with regulated data on it.

What are the risks?

1. Unsafe Security Practices: With their own mobile devices and with their own cloud service provider accounts, employees might engage in unsafe security practices. Mobile devices might not be encrypted or even password-protected. When using cloud services, employees might not have the appropriate settings or an adequately strong password. They might not understand the risks or how to mitigate them.
   
2. Choice of Cloud Service Provider: There are many cloud service providers, and they vary considerably in terms of their privacy and security practices. Cloud service providers may not have adequate terms of service and may not provide adequate privacy protections or security safeguards.
   
3. Regulatory Troubles: If an employee of a HIPAA covered entity or business associate shares protected health information (PHI) with a cloud service provider, a business associate agreement is likely needed. Employees who just put PHI in the cloud might result in their organization being found in violation of HIPAA in the event of an audit or data breach.
   
4. The Ease of Sharing: Sharing files is quite easy with many cloud providers – sometimes too easy. All it takes is a person to accidentally put regulated data into a shared file folder, and . . . presto, it will be instantly shared with everyone with permission to view that folder. One errant drag and drop can create a breach.
   
5. The Ease of Losing: If you don’t carry an umbrella on an overcast day, it surely will rain. And if you put regulated data on a mobile device without adequate protection, that device will surely be lost or stolen. Call it “Murphy’s Mobile Device Law.”

What should be done?

1. Educate the Cs: The C-Suite must be educated about these risks. These are readily-preventable risks that can be mitigated without tremendous expense.
   
2. Develop Policies: The study indicates that there is often a lack of policies about the use of mobile devices and cloud. There should be clear written policies about these things, and employees must be trained about these policies.
   
3. Educate the Workforce: Everyone must be educated about the risks of mobile devices and cloud and about good data security practices. According to the Ponemon Study, “Respondents believe that most employees at one time or another circumvent or disable required security settings on their mobile devices.” Employees must know more about the risks of using unapproved cloud service providers, as well as the special risks that cloud service applications can pose.
   
4. Instill Some Fear: The study reveals that almost systemically at most organizations, the risks of mobile and cloud are underappreciated and often ignored. There needs to be a healthy sense of fear. Otherwise, convenience will win.

The Ponemon Study reveals that there is a long way to go before most organizations adequately address the risks of mobile and cloud. The problem runs deeper than the fact that these risks are hard to redress.

The problem seems to stem from the fact that the risks are woefully underappreciated by many in organizations, from the top to the bottom. That has to change, and soon.

Hackers can control almost all Android phones

NINETY-nine per cent of all Android devices are vulnerable to hacking or being completely taken over remotely by cyber criminals

This is the claim of a study by BlueBox security, a mobile security company which claims it has discovered a flaw in the operating system of almost all Google phones and tablets (which runs on the operating system Android) that allows hackers to modify its code in a way that "turns any legitimate application into a malicious Trojan" virus.

The company claims this vulnerability exists on any Android phone or tablet released over the last four years, affecting approximately 900 million devices.

According to the researchers the issue is central to Google's open source operating system and so far only one device has been patched.

The way it works:

Rather than creating a malicious app, cyber criminals wait for legitimate apps to be approved for sale and then go in and modify the code after and create an exploit that allows them to take over people's phones via the app.

This flaw would allow hackers to access your passwords, credit card information, emails, any information you store on your phone.

So what can I do about this?

• Do not allow apps from unkown sources. To do this go to Settings, Security and untick "allow unknown sources".
  
• It's recommended that users update their operating system to the latest version.
  
• if you have any apps which store your personal information such as credit card or PayPal information (like eBay, Amazon or Etsy), you should remove this information immediately.
  
• Remove any personal information from your phone (do you have your credit card pin stored in your notes?

6 Steps to Secure Mobile Devices

NIST Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise

When NIST issued in 2008 its initial guidance on managing mobile device security, the Apple iPhone was just a year old and the introduction of the iPad was 15 months off. Even the guidance name, Special Publication 800-124: Guidelines on Cell Phone and PDA Security, sounds ancient to today's ears.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology on June 24 published its first revision of the SP 800-124, renaming it Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise.

NIST says the revised guidance provides recommendations for selecting, implementing and using centralized management technologies, explains the security concerns inherent in mobile device use and provides recommendations for securing mobile devices throughout their life cycles.

The guidance covers enterprise-issued devices as well as the bring-your-own device trend.

Step-by-Step Approach

The revised publication offers six major steps enterprises need to take to manage mobile devices in a secure environment. According to the guidance, organizations should:

1. Have a mobile device security policy that defines which types of the organization's resources may be accessed via mobile devices, which types of mobile devices - for example, organization-issued devices vs. BYOD - are permitted to access the organization's resources, the degree of access that various classes of mobile devices may have and how provisioning should be handled.
   
2. Develop system threat models for mobile devices and the resources that are accessed through the devices. These devices often need additional protection because of their higher exposure to threats than other client devices, such as desktops and laptops.
   
3. Consider the merits of each provided security service, determine which services are needed for their environment and then design and acquire one or more solutions that collectively provide the necessary services. Categories of services to be considered include general policy, data communication and storage, and user and device authentication and applications.
   
4. Implement and test a mobile device solution before putting it into production. Aspects of the solution that should be evaluated for each type of mobile device include connectivity, protection, authentication, application functionality, solution management, logging and performance.
   
5. Secure fully each organization-issued mobile device before allowing a user to access it. This ensures a basic level of trust in the device before it is exposed to threats.
   
6. Regularly maintain mobile device security, including checking for upgrades and patches and acquiring, testing and deploying them; ensuring that each mobile device infrastructure component has its clock synced to a common time source; reconfiguring access control features as needed; and detecting and documenting anomalies within the mobile device infrastructure, including unauthorized configuration changes to mobile devices.

The revised guidance also recommends that organizations periodically perform assessments to confirm that their mobile device policies, processes and procedures are being properly followed. Assessment activities may be passive, such as reviewing logs, or active, such as performing vulnerability scans and penetration testing.

5 Easy Ways To Secure Android Devices

Here are some basic steps anyone can take -- including enterprise workers -- to improve security on their personal Android BYOD devices

Android isn't exactly the preferred mobile OS in most enterprises, thanks to security concerns. Even as Google's open source platform dominates the mobile consumer market, it lags far behind Apple's iOS in the enterprise, based on activation numbers from mobile device management vendors such as Good Technology and Citrix.

But Android is a presence in the enterprise. Citrix reports that 35% of the devices it activated in Q4 through its cloud-based mobile management platform were running on Android. Even Good Technology's lowball activation figure of 23% in Q4 means nearly one in four new enterprise mobile devices on its MDM platform are Androids.  

As any IT pro can tell you, it's the unmanaged devices you have to watch out for. The personal smartphones employees use to access work data often fly under the radar screen -- that's what sparked the BYOD revolution. Most enterprises no longer fight BYOD, but try to manage it to one degree or another. And even if an enterprise approves the use of Android devices, not all are using MDM vendors or security platforms such as Samsung's SAFE and KNOX. 

1. Always lock your Android device: A no-brainer, but too often ignored because someone doesn't want to go through the hassle of typing in a four-digit PIN to unlock their phone. If that device is lost or stolen, it's an open book -- a book contains personal or work information. In addition to using a PIN, you can secure any device running Android 4.0 or newer versions by using Face Unlock.

This security feature hasn't exactly been air-tight -- it could be fooled with a photograph -- but reportedly Google is rolling out an improved version. Still another way to lock an Android device is a pattern lock, in which you access the device by drawing a specific pattern on the touchscreen. Again, this isn't optimal: Patterns can be detected on the touchscreen by holding it at the right angle, though there's a "secure wipe" feature that limits the number of access attempts.

Bottom line: When it comes to securing your hardware, something is better than nothing.

2. Install antivirus software: People are so used to everything being on their mobile devices these days that some assume they're automatically protected from viruses and malware. Such naivete would be touching if it weren't so dangerous to your enterprise.

Sadly, while Google reportedly now does a better job policing its Play apps store, the sheer number of apps (more than 700,000) mean some nasty malware is going to sneak in and await download from a trusting mobile device owner, who may work for your enterprise.

Further, there are many sketchy websites out there, loaded up with viruses ready to infect an unsuspecting visitor.

3. Always use encryption: Encrypting data makes it impossible for someone else to read what's on your Android device. An Android owner can do this by merely going to Settings, Location & Security, Data Encryption. There's also an option that allows users to encrypt files saved to the phone's memory card.

4. Never download apps from unsolicited emails and texts: Mobile devices are more "personal" and less formal than computers to many users, so some let their guard down and will out of curiosity follow links from mystery emails and texts ("it must be from one of my many social media friends!"). 

This is an extremely unsafe and unnecessary practice. Not only should apps not be downloaded from third-party sites, they shouldn't be downloaded until the user reads a review of the app. Two minutes of research can save a lot of problems down the road.

5. Always check apps permissions: What makes Android versatile -- developers and manufacturers can roll their own versions -- also makes it dangerous. That's because apps developers are free to mess with the permissions, so Android apps can come with wildly different rules for what the app can do on a device.

That may include sharing and sending data from an Android. This is the last prevention step a user can take to control what an app can do to their phone and data. It's worth spending the extra time.

Why Mobile Security Matters

How do Enterprises secure the increasing flow of data in and out of their doors?

The widespread adoption of intelligent mobile devices has transformed the way we work in innumerable ways. In 2012, IDC calculates that 712.6 million smartphones were shipped globally – 44.1% more than in 2011. In 2013, it predicts worldwide mobile tablet sales will reach 190.9 million, increasing the adoption of cloud and app-based solutions.

By 2016, mobile data traffic will have increased 18-fold, with smartphones, laptops, tablets and other portable devices driving around 90% of that traffic [Cisco]. Yet, alongside the countless new opportunities that these handy communications tools present for flexible workers, the continued rise in mobility also brings with it a myriad of potential security threats.

Most enterprises are already well-accustomed to protecting corporate data, including everything from commercial information to intellectual property and customer/employee information. However, the fact that mobile phones and tablets are small, portable and frequently used in public places or for downloading applications makes them particularly vulnerable to attacks and difficult to manage, especially compared with PCs.

In effect, these devices take corporate information out of the ‘safe’ corporate network and into unsecured environments, such as public Wi-Fi hotspots, and invite users to access a huge range of apps and websites.

The consequences of unwittingly falling foul of security threats can potentially go beyond the need for a simple repair to become far reaching. Whether it’s connecting to a bad Wi-Fi network in an internet café or downloading an app which contains malware, a single unintentional mobile security breach could potentially lead to financial and information loss, a privacy breach, loss of intellectual property or even damage to reputation.

As with other aspects of business, the cost of prevention is far lower than the cost of cure. For this reason, it is critical that today’s businesses assess their security environment and put the necessary protection in place to enable employees to work securely and without risk of infection, whenever and wherever in the world they may be.

Refer here to download the white paper (registration maybe required) which covers the following topics:

• Mobile security challenges and risks faced by large organisations
• Factors to consider when developing a mobile security strategy
• How to find a security solution that meets your organisational needs

BYOD is here to stay, Why?

Should enterprise adapting to an increasingly mobile world?

Statistics from major BYOD surveys and analysts over the last year shows that the BYOD trend is strong and will only get stronger. There are already 1 billion smartphone users around the world, with 1.3 billion smartphone and tablet sales expected in 2013.

Employees are using their personal smartphones for work all over the globe. However, the trend is strongest in high growth countries, such as Brazil, Russia and India, and among the youngest workers. Employees bring their own devices because they believe they let them do their jobs better, they like the flexibility to work when they want, and they prefer to carry a single device for work and personal use. Even knowing the security risks and that their companies might be watching their online activities, isn’t stopping this trend. 

IT departments are paying attention. They are aware of the growth of BYOD and are mostly positive about it. High growth countries and the US are more positive and providing the most support. While most IT departments have been supporting BlackBerry and Apple devices, many are realizing the need to support Android and Windows Mobile as well. Not surprisingly, the most popular business applications being used on mobile are email, web browsing, contacts and calendars, however more than half of IT departments report mobile apps being used for office applications, task and project management, social media, sales force automation or CRM as well. 

By embracing the rise of BYOD and enterprise mobility, 2013 presents the opportunity for IT to change their role from service providers and technology partners to leaders and business strategists. By taking the initiative and working closely with all areas of the business, IT can lead the company into the New Age of enterprise mobility – enabling increased productivity and operational efficiencies, securely, and cost-effectively. 

See below A Visual Display of the Current State of BYOD 2013:

Can Enterprise rely on MDM to achieve Mobile Security?

mRAT spyware bypasses mobile enterprise controls

Mobile remote access Trojan (mRAT) infections are increasing and bypassing mobile enterprise security controls, putting businesses at risk of cyber espionage, research has revealed.

mRATs are capable of intercepting third-party applications such as WhatsApp, despite guarantees of encrypted communications, the study of 2 million smartphone users by Lacoon Mobile Security found.

The research also showed that mRATs are similarly able to bypass security controls in mobile device management (MDM) systems, which a growing number of businesses rely-on for mobile security.

mRATs are designed to carry out cyber espionage and typically enable eavesdropping on calls and meetings, extracting information from email and text messages and location tracking of executives.

The spyware requires a backdoor for installation, through the rooting of Google Android or the jailbreaking of Apple iOS devices.

The research found that mRATs can bypass rooting and jailbreaking detection mechanisms installed on handsets, with 52% of infected devices found running iOS and 35% running Android.

The attacks undermine the basic notion of a secure container on which most MDM systems are based, according to Lacoon Mobile Security.

MDM systems create secure containers that separate business and personal data on the mobile, in an attempt to prevent business-critical data from leaking.

However, the research team demonstrated that mRATs do not need to directly attack the encryption mechanism of the secure container, but can grab it at the point where the user pulls up the data to read it.

Mobile best practices and technologies include:

• Remotely analyse the risk involved with each device, including behavioural analysis of the downloaded applications;
• Calculate the risk associated with the device's operating system vulnerabilities and usage;
• Conduct event analysis to uncover new, emerging and targeted attacks by identifying anomalies in outbound communications to C&C servers;
• Enable network protection layer to block exploits and drive-by attacks and contain the device from accessing enterprise resources when the risk is high.

Dishing-Off Your Old Device?

Did you know that in the wrong hands that "old" device can mean "new" problems for you?

Have you, like many adults, given a child in your life a hand-me-down mobile device? Maybe it's a "disabled" cell phone or your old iTouch that you let them play around on.

Savvy criminals are increasingly targeting mobile devices (even outdated ones) because they are very often loaded with personal data, including bank and credit cards numbers cached on mobile browsers, passwords, contact information, email and GPS histories.

If you are dead-set on letting your children play with these devices, be sure they have been wiped completely clean of your personal and business information. For tips on how to do this, give this eHow Tech post a thorough read.