How to Prevent Mobile Phishing
Prevent Mobile Phishing with Remote Control App Detection
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a combination of the words “private data” and “fishing,” referring to a hacking technique used to steal sensitive personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other important data. Typically, phishing disguises itself as a message from a trusted person or well-known company, luring the victim to a fake website to enter personal information or prompting them to download malicious malware.
Like many common threats, phishing began in the 1990s with the rise of the internet. Back then, hackers impersonated AOL (a company in US) employees to steal accounts and in the 2000s, phishing emails tricked users into revealing bank account information, or hackers would steal eBay and Google accounts to commit fraud, steal money, or send spam to other users.
The Rise of Mobile Phishing: From Email to Social Media - The Evolution of Phishing Attacks and New Threats
Hackers use phishing emails because they are easy,cheap, and effective. Email addresses areveryeasyto obtain, and since sending emails isvirtually free, hackers can access sensitive data withminimal effort and cost.As the digital environment has evolved and mobile device usage has increased dramatically, mobile phishing attacks have surged by 85% over the past five years.
Several factors make phishing attacks more successful and harder to detect on mobile devices than on PCs.
First, mobile devicesgenerally havefewer filtering and spam detection features. Messages sent through mobile apps oftencontainshort messages and malicious URLs,similar toemail phishing. Sometimes these messages appear as requests to update credit card details for an Amazon order or to provide more information for renewal. This rise in phishing through basic mobile SMS and MMS applications has led to the creation of a new term: "smishing" (SMS phishing).
Why Phishing Attacks are Effective on Mobile Devices
1. Mobile Interface
Unlike PCs, the mobile interface can hide many warning signs. On a desktop, users can hover over a link to verify whether the web address is legitimate or not. But on mobile, device this option is not available, thus making it harder to detect if a link is malicious. Additionally, traditional protection measures such as firewalls, secure email gateways, and endpoint protection are not as widely available on mobile devices, making it easier for hackers to launch attacks.
2. SMS, Messaging App and Social Media
Hackers don’t limit their activities to email on mobile devices. The most active platforms for mobile phishing are social media and messaging apps such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Users are generally less suspicious of links on social media, and hackers exploit this security gap.
3. Using Phones for Both Personal and Work
As more people use mobile devices for work, they become highly attractive targets for cybercriminals. If a hacker tricks someone into clicking a malicious link, they can easily gain access to sensitive work-related information stored on the phone, as well as take control of the device.
The Risk of Phishing Attacks via Remote Control Apps
In a phishing attack, if a malicious URL is clicked, a remote-control app can be installed, leading to the theft of personal information. While remote-control apps are useful, they can become very dangerous tools when exploited in phishing attacks. Hackers can leverage the nature of these apps to take full control of the victim's device and steal sensitive information. The following are the main reasons why remote support apps are used in mobile phishing attacks:
1. Extensive Device Access Permission
Remote-control apps request access to various functions within the device. They can control the screen in real time, access files, or run applications. These permissions allow hackers to fully control the victim’s smartphone and use it to steal sensitive information.
2. User Trust
Remote-control apps are primarily used for technical support, customer service, and IT troubleshooting. Because of this intended purpose, users tend to trust the app and install it without suspicion, granting permissions without hesitation.
3. Real-Time Control and Deception
Since remote-control apps can directly control the mobile device’s screen in real-time, an attack can occur without the victim knowing what’s happening. Hackers can monitor the victim's actions in real-time and capture sensitive information, such as logging into banking apps or entering confidential data.
4. Evasion of Legal Regulations
Since remote-control apps are typically designed for legitimate and useful purposes, they are less likely to be automatically blocked or detected by security software or the operating system.
5. Easy User Deception
A hacker can easily induce the installation of a remote-control app under the guise of customer service or technical support.
How to Prevent Phishing Attacks
To prevent phishing, it is essential for mobile device users to be cautious about their actions. Users should avoid clicking on suspicious URLs and be wary of installing remote-control apps disguised as customer support. However, phishing crimes have recently become more sophisticated, making it difficult for users to always stay alert. In this context, merely detecting remote-control apps can significantly reduce the risk of phishing. Additionally, apps that handle sensitive information, such as banking or financial data, can incorporate remote control app detection features to block app execution or notify users if a remote-control app is installed.
How to Use the LISS against Remote-Control Apps
LISS (LIAPP Secure Screen) is a solution designed to enhance mobile security by providing functions such as remote-control app detection, screen capture prevention, and screen recording blocking in a mobile environment, safeguarding users from various threats that aim to collect personal information.
When an app with LISS protected is running, it immediately detects if a remote-control app is running or has been installed. If the detected remote-control app is suspicious, LISS can block it or send a warning message to the user, allowing them to take appropriate action. Additionally, LISS thoroughly prevents illegal screen captures or sharing and recording, protecting users from the threat of data exposure.
Are you developing a fintech app or an app for financial transactions? If so, it is highly recommended to use LISS, which can detect remote-control apps and protect app users' sensitive data. Financial services handle sensitive user data, and if exposed to security threats, this can lead to financial losses such as customer data breaches, illegal fund transfers, and account takeovers. It can also damage the company’s reputation, result in customer loss, attract regulatory sanctions, lawsuits, and in severe cases, cause service disruptions. Phishing attacks that exploit remote- control apps are especially dangerous because they can occur without the user's awareness.
Apps with LISS protected not only detect remote-control apps and notify users, but also block screen captures and recordings in advance, preventing sensitive data from leaking outside. As a result, users can protect their data securely, while companies can maintain trust and minimize financial losses and legal risks associated with security breaches. Additionally, LISS is provided as a library-style SDK, allowing it to be embedded within the app without requiring significant resource investment from the app development team. It can also be applied as a standalone module without needing any additional app installations.
Strengthen your app's security with LISS and provide a service that reassures your customers. In an era where security is crucial, LISS is now an essential choice.
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