5 Reasons Why Mobile Apps Are Vulnerable To Fraud

Attacks
shield.com/blog/5-reasons-why-mobile-apps-are-vulnerable-to-fraud-attacks

1. Apps are a gold mine for fraudsters

Apps often store incredibly sensitive information. Users keep payment details, home
addresses and sometimes even social security numbers on their most frequently used
apps. Why? For the same reason you probably store similar information—convenience.

All this personal info is a virtual treasure trove for fraudsters. They can sell the account,
make fraudulent transactions and use the Personally identifiable information (PII) to
apply for loans. What’s more, users may also have reward points and travel miles sitting
in their accounts, which can be directly converted to profits for fraudsters.

2. Fast and easy is the name of the game—and mobile apps

deliver
It’s a dog eat dog world. Competition for consumer attention is fierce and according to
Dimension Data, 84% of companies that improve their user experience see an increase in
revenue. For this reason, mobile apps provide extra convenience through features like
one-click transactions.

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Unfortunately, convenient features that create a smoother experience for the end user
often make committing fraud much easier.

3. The mobile environment is the internet's wild west

Computers and the web environment have been with us for ages. But native app
environments are rather new in the grand scheme of things. As such, there’s no common
standard for app development and security, unlike web pages with standardized
protocols, which is one reason why mobile is the new battleground for fraudsters.

4. The slippery nature of mobile device fingerprints

Just as human fingerprints are used to identify humans, a device fingerprint assigns each
device a unique identity. The problem is, device fingerprints can be altered quite easily.
From complex device tampering tools to simple software and app updates, there are
hundreds of ways that device fingerprints can be changed. This makes accurate device
identification for fraud and abuse prevention extremely difficult.

5. Dangerous apps run rampant online

While it’s probably no shock that fraudulent apps often come from unauthorized sources,
you may be surprised to learn they also creep their way into official app stores.

FaceApp was a popular app in 2019, with celebrities like Lebron James, Drake and others
using it to share photos of what they may look like when they’re older. Soon after, it was
revealed that FaceApp asked for permissions they didn’t need, for information they didn’t
require. Data obtained in this way is often sold to illicit parties or used directly to break
into an account.

The point is, fraudulent apps are everywhere and fun apps can be surprisingly dangerous
—as fraudsters can access users’ personal data with them none the wiser.

It’s Time To Adopt A Better Approach To Fraud and Abuse

Prevention
Sophisticated fraud calls for actionable device intelligence. With mobile devices becoming
increasingly popular, fraudsters are hungry to take advantage of businesses that aren’t
prepared for their malicious tactics. The first step is awareness.

By understanding how fraudsters can exploit apps, businesses are in a much stronger
position to build customer trust and provide a safe online experience for their good users
whilst also saving millions of dollars in fraud losses and capturing even more in potential
revenue. Be aware of how fraudsters exploit mobile apps and use this knowledge to decide
your fraud strategy.

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