PRESS RELEASE
Woburn, Massachusetts – February 26, 2024 — In 2023 Kaspersky observed a steady increase in the number of attacks on mobile devices, which reached almost 33.8 million attacks, marking a 50% increase compared to the previous year’s figures. The most prevalent threat to mobile devices was adware, making up 40.8% of all threats detected.
International mobile leaders gather in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, Kaspersky’s annual event analyses of the mobile threat landscape, highlighting the growing prevalence of mobile security risks alongside the advancement of malicious mobile tools and technologies. According to the company’s experts, there is a notable upward trend in attacks against mobile devices. In 2023 alone, the number of such attacks rose to 33,790,599, which is a significant increase of almost 52%, compared to 22,255,956 attacks recorded in 2022.
The most prevalent threat to mobile devices is adware, a type of software that displays unwanted pop-up ads, accounting for 40.8% of all detected threats. As for banking Trojans, the number of installation packages of such malware dropped to 153,682 after recording a sharp increase last year when the figure doubled. At the same time, the number of attacks via mobile banking has remained relatively at the same level.
Cyber criminals often distribute mobile threats through official and unofficial app stores. In 2023, Kaspersky experts observed numerous malicious applications infiltrating Google Play. One of the most common disguises for 2023 was fake investing apps that relied on social engineering tactics to extract personal data from users, mainly phone numbers and full names, which was later added to databases used for wire fraud. Another prevalent attack vector observed were malicious WhatsApp and Telegram mods designed to steal user data.
“The surge in Android malware and riskware activity throughout 2023 marks a worrying shift after a period of relative calm,” said Anton Kivva, mobile security expert at Kaspersky. “Reaching levels reminiscent of early 2021 by the end of the year, this increase highlights the significant threat users face. It is a strong reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and implementing robust security measures to protect against ever-evolving cyber threats.”
Read the full report on mobile threats in 2023 Securelist.com.
To protect yourself from mobile threats, Kaspersky shares the following tips:
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Download your apps only from official stores such as Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon Appstore. The apps on these markets are not 100% safe, but at least they are checked by store representatives and there is a filtering system: not all apps can access these stores.
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Check the permissions of the apps you use and think carefully before authorizing an app, especially when it comes to high-risk permissions like accessibility services. The only permission a flashlight app needs is the flashlight permission (which doesn’t even involve access to the camera).
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A reliable security solution helps you detect malicious apps and adware before they start behaving maliciously on your devices. Conveniently, you can get protection, for example Kaspersky Premiumdirectly from mobile operators.
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A good tip is to update your operating system and important apps as soon as updates become available. Many security issues can be resolved by installing updated versions of the software.