LONDON, Jan. 20,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey from Omdia
reveals that phishing scams are the leading security threat for
smartphone users, with 24% of respondents reporting they have
fallen victim to these attacks. Phishing, which includes fraudulent
texts, emails, or calls designed to trick individuals into
revealing sensitive personal information, remains a significant
concern as cybercriminals continue to exploit unsuspecting
consumers.
Omdia surveyed 1,572 consumers across the Americas, Asia & Oceania, and Europe in October
2024 for the fourth annual Omdia Mobile Device Security
Scorecard. The survey found that the next most common security
issue was malware and viruses, followed by physical theft, such as
pickpocketing, mugging, or snatching.
In Omdia's recent assessment of leading premium smartphones,
Google's Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung's Galaxy S24 outperformed Apple's
iPhone 16 Pro and other Android-based devices, including the
OnePlus 12, Xiaomi 14, and Honor Magic 6 Pro. Anti-phishing
protection proved to be a weak spot across all devices, as none
successfully intercepted all phishing texts, calls and
emails.
Simulated spam calls revealed that all Android devices from
Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, and Samsung successfully flagged
suspected spam calls before users answered, while the iPhone 16 Pro
lacked similar voice call protection.
None of the tested devices fully No device flagged
simulated phishing emails from Gmail as phishing, only identifying
them as spam when sent from Google's SMTP.
Despite gaps in detecting phishing texts and emails, devices
with Google Safe Browsing protections successfully blocked the link
from opening, displaying a warning screen and requiring user
confirmation to proceed. Performance across browsers varied
significantly: Samsung Internet effectively blocked most links,
including advanced custom URLs, while Xiaomi Mii and OnePlus Internet browsers failed
to warn users about known malicious links, underscoring
inconsistencies in Android device's security.
"The lack of security protection, particularly against the
growing threat of phishing attacks, is eroding consumer trust,"
said Omdia Senior Analyst, Aaron
West. "When consumers were asked if their trust following a
security issue increased (due to how well the issue was handled) or
decreased, 73% reported they had reduced trust in the smartphone
brand and operating system developer."
"Despite the latest protections in place by some manufacturers,
it is difficult to protect 100% against phishing attempts,
highlighting the severity of the issue and potential impact to
consumers. That said, smartphone manufacturers can (demonstrated by
the more advanced phishing protection capabilities available) and
should have a better baseline of phishing protection – such as
voice call protection, and all Android devices making use of
Google's Safe Browsing protections," said Hollie Hennessy, Principal Analyst, Omdia. "This
needs to be paired with awareness activity from manufacturers and
the wider industry to help consumers be vigilant and prepared".
ABOUT OMDIA
Omdia, part of Informa TechTarget, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a
technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech
markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations
to make smart growth decisions.
Contact
Fasiha Khan:
fasiha.khan@omdia.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/omdia-survey-finds-phishing-attacks-top-smartphone-security-concern-for-consumers-302355218.html
SOURCE Omdia