Govt should play a role in mobile security: Zimperium

Mobile security platform provider Zimperium is urging governments and local councils to play a role in protecting residents in the digital world.

The company’s GM for APJ Business Akhil Bhutani said governments and councils bear a responsibility to protect residents in both the physical and digital worlds, and that mobile cybersecurity has evolved from being a public good to an absolute public necessity.

The pervasive threat landscape, individuals’ increasing reliance on mobile devices, privacy concerns and enterprise security are among the demands that emphasise the crucial role of mobile cybersecurity, he said.

In Australia alone there are 17.9 million smartphones and more than three million internet-connected smart devices. According to the ABS, two-thirds of Australians aged 15 years and over were meanwhile exposed to a scam in 2021–2022, with people most commonly exposed to a scam over the phone (48%) or by text message (47%).

“Organisations of all sizes still grapple with how to strengthen mobile security. This challenge is particularly pronounced in state and local government, where constituents are increasingly interfacing with government via digital channels,” Bhutani said.

“Given the small screen and people’s lack of awareness, a lot of people end up clicking on malicious links. My company’s research shows that the average user is 6–10 times more likely to fall for an SMS phishing attack than an email-based attack.”

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