Threats, Attacks, and Mitigations of Smartphone Security

Abstract

Mobile devices such as Smart Phones and Personal Assistant Devices (PDA) that are Internet based are becoming much more capable of handling complex tasks such as online shopping, online banking as well as social media networking; However, the security mechanisms and defense measures that are built into those devices are not commensurate with those powerful communication and computational capabilities. This in turn, creates critical vulnerabilities thus promoting the chance for imminent security threats. The intent of this paper is to take a look into some of the vulnerabilities and risks associated with the use of smart phones that are Internet based, explore the current security mechanisms and strategies that are in place, and finally propose some proactive defense strategies to ensure appropriate protection of critical information contained in Smart phone devices.