Communication security

Malicious Eavesdropping – What Can Be Done Against it?

Mobile devices contain access to all of our personal and corporate data. Eavesdropping is a prevailing threat among many on mobile phones, with technology capable of tracking users, listening to their conversations and even logging their application usage becoming more pervasive and easier to come by. There is an increase in attackers’ use of surveillanceware, which can be used to eavesdrop on people. The number and frequency of such incidents are substantial. Data Theorem has identified more than 100 million eavesdropping attempts on iOS and Android applications since its TrustKit release in 2015.

Moreover, telecom network conditions are not improving, with 4G subscribers across Europe and Asia exposed to the same threats as subscribers of previous-generation networks. It is the diversity in types of attacks that make building a strong defense against eavesdropping all the more challenging.

The list of dangers is growing, however, given the proliferation of the internet of things (IoT), many of which connect to or are accessible by mobile networks.