Based on what he is seeing, the number of new threats being discovered is "skyrocketing" now compared to the past, and that is now happening in the mobile space.

"2011 was big, but 2012 is already looking bigger," McDonald said.

"It's almost getting to the point where you have to run to keep up."

For McDonald, that highlights the need more than ever for people to be security aware as the "bad guys" continue to get "bolder and cleverer."

McDonald's association with the security space goes back beyond his time at Symantec when he was at Telecom in New Zealand, where he was involved with network security.