Phone sophistication

Wednesday, November 21st 2007 - 11:15 CET - Comments: 0

T he mobile anti-malware market is emerging. Even though the threat level has increased significantly, the total number of attacks has remained low. The low threat level goes hand in hand with a low level of risk awareness; both in corporate and consumer segments, mobile crime is an issue that is not widely recognised. Yet, the mobile anti-malware market is poised to grow considerably within the medium- to long-term. Market drivers are the increasing sophistication of feature phones, the standardisation of smartphone operating systems, and the need for diversification in the cybercriminal industry.

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Mobile phone malware attacks

"Mobile phones are becoming ever more sophisticated; smartphone usage is rising, while advanced capabilities such as MMS, Bluetooth and Internet access are increasingly becoming standard features in phones," notes the analyst of this research. "However, few people realise that it is these extra capabilities that make mobile phone malware attacks possible."

 

Anti-malware software

The main vendors in the mobile anti-malware market are PC anti-malware vendors, other content security vendors, and a number of best-of-breed market participants. Vendors have chosen different product strategies as a basis for competition: they either protect the handset with aftermarket software, embed anti-malware software into devices before they are shipped, or protect at the network level. The acceleration of two presently occurring trends is likely to cause more attacks on mobiles and spark off market growth. Firstly, the cybercriminal industry is expanding. Encouraged by the revenues made from PC malware attacks, online criminals are now turning their attention to mobile phones. Secondly, the standardisation of operating systems is increasing. This trend will allow hackers to adopt standardised methods of attack, which are more cost-efficient and require less developed technological skills.

 

 

 

Mobile phone sophistication increases - Report

A spate of attacks on consumer devices in particular would generate a lot of media coverage and promote greater awareness in both consumer and enterprise segments. The necessary conditions for mass-launching of attacks will be fulfilled in the medium term, between three and five years. In the meantime, the market is expected to continue growing at a steady pace. For security vendors, this means that even though the return-on-investment is not immediately forthcoming, it is wise to further invest in development solutions, as well as in go-to-market strategies. "Mobile operators are the main catalysts of technology partnerships with handset manufacturers and network equipment providers," observes the analyst of this research. "Those security vendors who set up agreements within the industry value chain today, will have a competitive advantage when the market accelerates."

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