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Hacking accounts through mobile devices could be real risk, experts warn

Even cyber criminals with relatively little expertise could take advantage of the growing usage of mobile phones and other portable computer devices to hack into secure data, experts have warned.

Speaking at this week's BlackHat Security conference in Helsinki, Jukka Tuomi, chief technology officer at Finnish software firm ErAce Security Solutions, claimed that risk of criminals using mobile devices to obtain data is growing by the day.

Specifically, he explained that, by sending out fraudulent text messages, criminals could be able to entice users to send them back sensitive data, which can then be used to hack into computer systems or even bank accounts.

Such a risk would be magnified in countries where screening on data traffic by telecoms operators is not commonplace, thereby placing travelling business people in potential jeopardy.

However, according to Reuters, the conference also heard that by being proactive with anti-spyware and by beefing up their security applications, businesses should be able to keep their data secure.

Just last month, Ford warned consumers not to fall for a phishing scam after it was revealed that criminals were sending out emails purporting to be from the carmaker.

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