Last Updated on March 26, 2023 by hassan abbas
Discreet security officers safely transferring VIPs from one location to another are common features of executive protection. However, as in other areas of life, the risks to an individual have progressed over and above actual physical harm to the compromised digital realm. That makes online VIP security a crucial pasrt of executives’ lives.
Today anyone, especially high-profile personnels, could be targeted by hackers in a sophisticated malware attack — and top managers take the highest percentage of such heinous crimes. Once configured, such apps can invade machines and eavesdrop on phone calls, read texts and emails, or use Gps navigation to pinpoint the user. In certain cases, these specifics could be sold on the dark web at the right price or used for illicit reasons.
Among the most security vulnerabilities that an executive may face, mobile phone security tops them all. Mostly because you carry your phone all the time. These phones have the potency to possess several of the most prevalent spyware. So, as a risk expert with executive security duties, how can you reduce these threats?
This article discusses the impact of mobile security flaws on executives and how to secure your mobile phone, privacy, and corporate data. But let’s first define executive protection and to be specific, digital or online executive security.
What is Online Executive Security?
Just like bodyguards, executives need online security too. Online executive security implies getting a robust cyber security solution to protect your personal and corporate data from cyber attacks. It also includes securing your phone, your computer, tablet, and any machine that lets you access the internet world and sensitive data online.
Mobile Security for Executives
For online executive protection, one thing that is supremely important is mobile security. Since mobile phones have become a ubiquitous part of our lives, they need added security. Here is how to enhance mobile security for executives and secure yourselves in the digital world.
Taking Preventive Measures
The key to reducing risk is to take strong security precautions before any potential hazards violate the online limits. You can take the following actions:
- Employ 2FA (Even MFA if required): A myriad of cyber attacks where both companies and high-profile people’ cloud accounts were breached and classified info was publicly revealed without the involved parties’ awareness. Two-factor authentication or multi factor authentication has been shown to significantly lower the risk of security breaches online.
- Different Work and Personal Phone: Another risk-mitigation strategy is for professionals to use different personal and corporate devices. Executives who become the victim of a cyber attack are using one smartphone for various purposes, which increases the chances of spyware being installed. An easy way to minimize that threat is to have separate personal and work phones that are not linked by a shared server.
- Advanced Screen Lock Protection: Most malware requires physical access to a phone in order to be set up properly. Thus it is critical to advise employees and managers to lock their smartphones when not in use. Passwords alone are frequently insufficient to secure a mobile, particularly when the attacker is somebody you know. Leveraging biometric security like fingerprint or facial recognition in conjunction with a strong security code is undoubtedly among the most efficient mobile phone security precautions.
- Installing Mobile Security Apps: Even though all of the techniques discussed above are successful in reducing threat, they do not entirely eliminate the possibility of a violation. Installing a mobile security app that detects smartphones for malware on a regular basis will ensure it further. It will not only help you in reducing risks by detecting and eliminating malicious apps at the origin, but also implies that security professionals are concerned about privacy breach as soon as it occurs, giving the opportunity to minimize the damage induced.
Removing Risks Completely
Taking preventive measures do not always remove all the risks. Spyware can often get past mobile security precautions. If a breach happens, security management must take drastic measures to eliminate the problem and reduce harm. It can be done in the following ways:
- Upgrade OS and Apps Regularly: Exploiting out-of-date source code, whether in the apps or the entire operating system is among the simplest ways for attackers to access the system. Updating your apps regularly can secure devices from several types of malware.
- Factory reset: If everything else stops working, you can reset your device to factory default. This deletes all phone’s data, along with any malware or viruses that may have been installed. Even so, make sure that any crucial data is backed up first.
- Get Attack Detection App: Another method of protecting a mobile phone is to get an intrusion detection and prevention app to track down anyone with physical access to the device. When an inaccurate PIN is entered to unlock the screen, for instance, it could either take a covert photo of the invader or send an alert. Since most applications involve physical access to your phone, this option is useful for those worried about stalkers and spyware. Intruder security also provides users with credible proof of a violation, allowing you to eliminate malware much more quickly.
The defense industry evolves in tandem with the rest of the world. It is critical that executives adjust to the rapidly changing threats against them. With rising hacking attacks among the most serious threats they encounter in the future, it is critical to take your security seriously.
