Report highlights consumer concerns regarding mobile security
IDG Global Solutions has released a new report focused on the safety aspects of mobile commerce. The report notes that many people are willing to use their smartphones and tablets to shop online, but safety concerns keep them from doing so. High profile cyber attacks on retailers often discourage people from participating in mobile commerce, as they believe that their financial information is constantly at risk of exploitation. Poorly optimized mobile shopping platforms are also keeping people away from mobile shopping as well.
Retailers are finding it difficult to engage mobile consumers in an effective manner
The report notes that many people are visiting mobile websites from their smartphones and tablets, but retail sites have a problem with engaging these consumers effectively. Sites that do not have a retail focus are better equipped to handle mobile traffic, but many retailers have not yet figured out how to cater to the needs of mobile consumers, leaving them with poor online shopping experiences.
Consumers are beginning to favor their mobile devices over PCs and laptops
Many people are beginning to rely on their mobile devices almost exclusively when shopping online. The report shows that an estimated 40% of consumers have abandoned their PCs or laptops in favor of smartphones and tablets. Consumers appear to be particularly fond of tablets when it comes to mobile shopping, as their larger screens provide a more enjoyable shopping experience. Retail sites are somewhat more accommodating of tablet devices, but still suffer from effectively managing mobile traffic.
Security concerns are keeping people away from mobile commerce and many are uncomfortable with how retailers are using their personal information
Security is, perhaps, the most significant problem currently facing the mobile commerce space. Many people are cautious of visiting mobile retail sites because they do not believe that retailers are able to adequately protect their personal information. Some believe that retailers use their personal information for marketing purposes without permission. The security issue is affecting the adoption of mobile commerce among consumers in a negative way, giving people a reason not to shop online with their mobile devices.
The Selfmite malware has been spreading its way through smartphones by way of links in text messages.
A new mobile security threat in the form of the Selfmite Android malware has been making the rounds through a malicious link that is being distributed by way of text messages to the contacts on the device user’s list.
This link leads to a rare Android worm that has now been discovered by security researchers.
By the time this Selfmite mobile security threat is installed onto a device, this malware texts 20 contacts from the address book of the smartphone owner. This is a different type of threat from what is usually seen over Android devices, as the majority of those problems are in the form of Trojan apps that do not have their own mechanisms for self propagation. Instead, they are distributed to smartphone and tablet users by way of non-official app stores.
This new mobile security problem is the second threat of this nature that has been discovered in the last 2 months.
This may suggest that the number of malware attacks in the form of worms could be on the rise into the future. The text message that is sent by the Selfmite worm contains the name of the contact, so that it says “Dear [Contact’s Name], Look the Self-time,” and is followed by a URL that has been goo.gl shortened.
This infected link directs the user to an APK file that is called “TheSelfTimerV1.apk”. This Android application file is hosted on a remote server, according to the AdaptiveMobile security firm researchers who identified the threat. If the user chooses to install this APK, then “The self-timer” is placed into the app list.
From that point, it not only spreads itself to 20 contacts through texts from that device, but it also attempts to encourage that device’s user to download and install another file, which is called mobogenie_122141003.apk through their mobile browser.
That is actually a legitimate app called Mobogenie, which gives Android users the chance to synch their devices with their PCs so that they can download applications form an alternative app store. That application has already received over 50 million downloads from Google Play but is heavily promoted through affiliate marketing strategies, which can incentivize fraudulent distribution by unethical individuals willing to use mobile security threats to try to make money.
