Security threats to mobile devices increase but only 4 percent of smartphones and tablets are protected with security software, according to a study by Juniper Research (News - Alert).
The report cites that less than one in twenty smartphones and tablets have third party security software installed in them, despite a steady increase in threats from device loss/theft, malwares and viruses. However, the increasing extent to which personal and corporate data is stored on mobile devices and the recognition of the need to protect it will create a USD 3.6 billion opportunity for mobile security software providers by 2016.
“We believe that the market for mobile security products will go mainstream by late 2013 as the vulnerability of data centric mobile devices becomes more widely appreciated both in the business and consumer sectors. High-profile security alerts are likely to heighten the public’s awareness of this growing issue,” said report author Nitin Bhas.
Enterprise security market for tablets, smartphones and feature phones will contribute towards 69 percent of the total mobile security product sales revenue by 2016. Juniper believes that as more tablets are brought into the enterprise over the forecast period, the proportion of tablets featuring security product will also increase and will overtake the protected smartphone user levels. Nearly 277 million mobile devices will have some kind of protection installed by 2016.
Earlier this year, McAfee issued their own report, saying cellphone security threats grew significantly in 2010, as “a proliferation of Internet-enabled mobile devices” laid the groundwork for cybercriminals to target the increasingly popular smartphones and tablets that now thoroughly populate our world.
“As more users access the Internet from an ever-expanding pool of devices – computer, tablet, smartphone or Internet TV – Web-based threats will continue to grow in size and sophistication,” the report said.
According to Reuters, the prominent security software maker discovered 46 percent more cellphone-specific malware in 2010 than it found in 2009.
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Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
