Mobile cyber threats in the META region increased by 22 percent!

Kaspersky experts shared data on mobile cyber threat dynamics in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) at the 'Cyber Security Weekend-META 2024' event.

Accordingly, as users increasingly rely on their mobile devices to share personal data and connect to corporate networks, the number of mobile threats detected in the META region increased by 22 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. The increase in mobile threats climbed to 40 percent in the Middle East, 10 percent in Africa, and 120 percent in Turkey.

According to statistics, the Android mobile operating system has a dominant market share in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. Although Apple devices are not immune to cyber threats, they are difficult to monitor due to their operating system features.

Malware infection vectors vary. Users typically encounter malware when they install programs from unofficial sources. Attackers use various lures to convince victims to download a malicious application, preferring to disguise it as a useful or well-known app.

Among the most used baiting techniques by cybercriminals in the META region are malware, WhatsApp or Chrome app mods, music downloaders, ad-blocking software, and system applications. The Trojan 'CanesSpy', which is particularly active in the META region, is capable of stealing data from an infected smartphone.

Kaspersky's recommendations are as follows:

Download applications only from official stores.

Check application permissions.

Use a reliable mobile security solution.

Keep the operating system and important applications updated.

Enhance protection with specialized cybersecurity services.

News Source: 12punto