The growing dominance and dependence of individuals and entities over the use of cyberspace came coupled with the need for security against its breaches. Data being the biggest asset of today’s time demands not only network security, but device security too. The highest level of hacking that attacked both classes and masses in the recent past includes, the high-profile 2020 SolarWinds (SWI) attack, allegedly carried out by Russia, compromising about 300,000 clients, including Microsoft. While, a 2019 hacking of smartphones via ToTok, a UAE-based messaging app, compromised millions to a secret surveillance campaign. A surge in such activities was largely observed when the coronavirus pandemic pushed people to shift to the ‘work-from-home setups, operating under home networks – less secure and easily compromised. Smartphone Security
The primary focus of cybersecurity is usually corporate networks, even though the default tool for two-factor authentications are smartphones. Thus, areas not to be overlooked in terms of security must also include access to these networks as well as device security. Especially in the era of smartphones that can effortlessly enter and exit any network instantaneously. Smartphone Security
Dominance of Smartphones
Phones today are smartphones, incorporating banking, shopping, communication, and storage. Thus, data by Juniper Research estimated that users of online and mobile banking services would total to more than 3.6 billion by 2024. Two years prior, the number of mobile banking users exceeded online banking users in 2018, pushing the security of devices to become more crucial.
As a result, in times of PIN and passwords, Apple’s user base – one half of the smartphone user majority – looked up to Touch ID as their saving grace. However, the sensor was then incorporated in the home button and not provided as an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Finally,
In the 2021 CES event, Qualcomm launched its 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2, an under-the-display-sensor for detecting fingerprints – 77% larger and 50% faster as compared to the 1st gen sensor. Apple too, is reportedly planning on bringing the in-display Touch ID back. Following Android’s in-display fingerprint scanner, if Apple too reconfigures its security measures, it is said to set off a larger smartphone market to incorporate the same in their models, acting as a boon to Qualcomm as well as competing solution providers – Synaptics.
