Smartphones are the most powerful devices of our time. But, indeed, they can also be misused by hackers. They store the most sensitive data about a person and once anyone unscrupulous gets access to them, he can wreak havoc. Therefore, companies must know how to make the employees make their mobile phones secure. 

Such risks exist even more when companies don’t ensure that employees use official phones for work. Why does a risk arise when employees use personal mobile phones for work? It’s because they can access the company portal on their Smartphone. This can be risky when anyone from outside the office accesses this portal. The employees must never leave their phones unlocked. Moreover, the employees should use strong passcodes on their phones.

But they can be cracked when the phones get stolen. Hence it’s essential to use fingerprint authentication on the phone. 

Cybersecurity training is essential for employees to learn how to set fingerprint or facial or retina authentication on their devices. If such biometric authentication is not possible, then it’s better to use two-factor authentication for crucial apps.

Ways to protect data when a phone gets stolen:

• Two factor authentication(TFA):

Even though employees can enable two-factor authentication on a company app, criminals can crack into an app when they have access to the Smartphone. So, even TFA is not enough to protect our data on company apps.

Therefore, it’s suggested that TFA is set on a different device than the one which is used to access company apps. Under that eventuality, even if one phone gets stolen, the cybercriminal has no chance of accessing the company app even if he has cracked the password.

• Antitheft system:

An antitheft function is a useful feature of such devices because it helps if the phone is stolen. If an employee has been trained on how to use such systems he can benefit from that, because in case of theft, such a system monitors phone in case the SIM gets changed. The antitheft systems get active and send the location of the phone to any alternate SIM which has been registered by the owner of the phone in such a system. 

The worst part is when an employee’s phone has not been stolen, but has been hacked. Then the employee’s data is being used without his knowledge. This is more troublesome for example when Pegasus software is installed; it collects all your data through key logger software and sends it to an organization who can sell it. This software is not a threat to ordinary employees of a company but to high-profile employees. 

Once the email ID and password are stolen cybercriminals can get access to company emails. They can also access to documents that have been shared through such email ids.

A company can lose the trust of customers when a such data breach happens. There can be trouble when such documents contain vendor payment details. Its because their bank accounts can be hacked.

Ways in which mobile phone hacking happens:

• Phishing emails:

Problems can arise when anyone clicks on a phishing link and download such software. The employees have to be taught through cyber awareness training how to recognize such links and not click on them.

Such links can also be included in text messages and hence employees have to be cautious. Ever since the concept of apps has come into the picture where everything can be accessed through this software, phishing attacks have increased.

That’s why, in cybersecurity training, employees must be trained about phishing and how it can happen when they click on any unknown link which contains spyware.

• Using public Wi-Fi:

The employees must be taught not to use their smartphones with public Wi-Fi. It’s because when the data is transferred on such networks, it’s not encrypted and can be accessed by hackers. So, employees must only use mobile data even though public Wi-Fi is available. Hence cybersecurity training teaches employees how to prevent the hacking of their smartphones.

The phishing links are a threat to any company because they can install keylogging Software on your PC. They can steal credit card details used on a phone and conduct financial transactions. 

The employee should have enabled two-factor authentication, so even if someone steals his credit card details, he can’t do any financial transactions. 

• Downloading malicious apps:

The employees can also face trouble when they download unauthorized apps on their phones. 

Such apps can buy things with just one tap from the owner. Hence he should keep checking the bills regularly for any payments. 

How to prevent hacking through cybersecurity training?

• Using antivirus software:

Whenever an app asks for download permission, the employee should give his consent cautiously. In cyber security training, the companies can give a demo of such antivirus apps to the employees. It can prevent any installation of malware on the Smartphone. They also give employees access to VPN so that they don’t use public WiFi which can prove to be dangerous. So, if anyone gets across a phishing link, it prevents him from clicking on it. The link does not open.

Call blocker is also an essential function of these apps so that unsuspecting users don’t reveal any sensitive information to unknown callers. 

This is how cybersecurity training on mobiles can help companies and employees.