The security of wireless voice services and mobile data are key considerations for users and their employers. However, a majority of users overestimates the risk, misunderstands the security threats that do exist, and looks for protection from sources that cannot help, says a new survey by In-Stat.
The current reality is that cellular voice and data services based upon digital technology are as secure as wireline networks. The bigger problem is that end-users lose, or have stolen, a large number of mobile devices.
"If we look at the projected value of lost mobile devices, we see that smartphones represent a disproportionate value of lost hardware. This does not include the value of data that could be accessed should an organisation not know about the loss of the device," it says.
Since it is impractical to "put the genie back in the bottle" and limit access to corporate information to landline connections, organisations need to take over at least some control of these devices. Too many organisations allow end-users to select their own devices, mobile data networks, and degree of access to corporate databases.
But the problem with this is that users select the method that is most convenient and costs less, not necessarily the one that is most secure. Based upon this survey, users are extremely misinformed about security threats. Most are concerned with problems that have been solved for almost a decade.
Compounding the security problem is that users reject even minimal steps to increase security. For example, many users resent that a carrier can disable a stolen device and many carriers find that many use default passwords, an obvious security risk
Courtesy : Asianage.com
The current reality is that cellular voice and data services based upon digital technology are as secure as wireline networks. The bigger problem is that end-users lose, or have stolen, a large number of mobile devices.
"If we look at the projected value of lost mobile devices, we see that smartphones represent a disproportionate value of lost hardware. This does not include the value of data that could be accessed should an organisation not know about the loss of the device," it says.
Since it is impractical to "put the genie back in the bottle" and limit access to corporate information to landline connections, organisations need to take over at least some control of these devices. Too many organisations allow end-users to select their own devices, mobile data networks, and degree of access to corporate databases.
But the problem with this is that users select the method that is most convenient and costs less, not necessarily the one that is most secure. Based upon this survey, users are extremely misinformed about security threats. Most are concerned with problems that have been solved for almost a decade.
Compounding the security problem is that users reject even minimal steps to increase security. For example, many users resent that a carrier can disable a stolen device and many carriers find that many use default passwords, an obvious security risk
Courtesy : Asianage.com