Mobile apps are new cyber crime attack vector

06.08.2012
Mobile apps have emerged as a new cyber crime attack vector for phishing and malware, says RSA, the security division of EMC.

To combat this issue, the company has introduced the RSA FraudAction Anti Rogue App Service that can identify and take action against rouge mobile apps that are out to serve up malware or phishing attacks.

The release of this application is well timed as a report from TrendMicro TrendLabs indicates that the number of malicious Android apps jumped over 20,000 in July 2012. RSA also notes an April 2012 report from Goode Intelligence that shows about 71 percent of organisations allow their employees to use their own mobile devices for company business.

RSA's new managed service has been designed to monitor all major app stores for all mobile operating systems. It can also shut down malicious apps to deliver a range of benefits such as reduction of end user credential loss, financial fraud as well as damage to organisations' brand equity.

"We're finding that organisations offering legitimate mobile apps used for online banking, retail, gaming and other functions aren't prepared and are mostly unaware of the mobile app threats lurking in app stores," said Dan Schiappa, RSA senior vice president, identity & data protection. "Driven by RSA's experienced team of anti-fraud analysts, the RSA FraudAction Anti Rogue App Service is designed to help these organisations reduce fraud losses."