So biometrics are simpler and work better. But the solutions have to be simple.įor instance, if authentication takes too long, or if passwords are complicated, consumers could tune out. Our strategy is to provide tools to protect both your privacy and identity, a strategy that goes beyond just passwords like biometrics to deal with the multiple levels of authentication mandated by banks and financial institutions. How is McAfee tackling this security landscape and how are you leveraging the Intel expertise? It is the ability for you to effortlessly, but consistently, prove that it’s you and not someone else. Identity poses, perhaps, a bigger challenge than privacy. It means that you control how your personal data is utilized-whether medical records or financial information.
By privacy, I mean the authorized use of your personal identifiable information. There are two elements of personal security that will become extraordinarily important as the days go by-one is protecting your privacy and the other, your identity.
Rootkits and Mac malware continue to rise, while password-stealing Trojans and AutoRun malware also trended strongly upward. McAfee Labs also saw jumps in some categories of malware, including ransomware. It also revealed that mobile malware has increased and so have database breaches. The latest report (14 November) uncovered new details of Operation High Roller (sophisticated automated attack on global banks and financial institutions). Hence, it’s going to be very challenging to protect oneself across all these devices. With more mobile devices accessing the Internet-at last count, there were 2.2 billion devices accessing the Internet, of which 1.2 billion were mobiles-hackers get their volumes. Hackers look for numbers to make their efforts pay.
Cyber crimes have also moved from Windows PCs to mobile devices. These are organized crimes and there are even rogue governments that snoop on consumers. It’s not kids hacking for fun from their bedrooms any longer. Second, the people perpetrating cyber crimes have become much more sophisticated as there’s tremendous financial gain associated with these acts.
The volume of malware has shot up exponentially. Since enterprises cannot afford to have lax security measures, they are forcing employees (who are also consumers) to secure their personal devices if they’re using the same device in the enterprise.Īt what pace are security threats gaining ground? The BYOD trend is indeed helping consumers secure their smartphones and tablets.