In today’s digital age, mobile applications have become an integral part of our daily lives, with millions of users relying on them to manage their finances, access healthcare services, communicate with others, and much more. However, as the usage of mobile apps continues to grow, so does the risk of cyber attacks, making cybersecurity a critical concern for mobile application developers and users alike.
Mobile applications often contain sensitive data, such as personal and financial information, making them a prime target for cybercriminals. Cyber attacks on mobile apps can result in data breaches, financial loss, identity theft, and even physical harm in some cases. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that mobile apps are secure and protected against potential cyber threats.
Cybersecurity in mobile applications involves implementing various security measures, such as encryption, secure authentication, app hardening, and threat detection, to name a few. These measures help prevent unauthorized access, data leaks, and other security breaches that can compromise user data and app functionality.
Appdome is a mobile integration platform that allows developers to add various features and functionalities to their mobile apps without requiring any coding or modifications to the app’s source code. One of the most critical features offered by Appdome is security. With cyber threats on the rise, cybersecurity is more important than ever, and mobile apps are no exception.
Mobile apps have become a prime target for cybercriminals due to their widespread usage and the sensitive data they often handle. Appdome’s platform offers a range of security integrations that can help mobile app developers protect their apps and users from cyber attacks. In this context, the platform plays a significant role in enhancing the overall security posture of mobile apps, ensuring that users can confidently use mobile apps without worrying about data breaches or cyber-attacks.
“Our goal is to help developers deliver the protections needed in a mobile application. To connect those cyber features to the experience of the mobile app and to make sure that when we use the application, we still get a beautiful experience, still want to use it, and love it. Cybersecurity is not just a big red button that says stop; we can actually have an integrated experience and keep the users happy,” according to Tom Tovar, Co-creator and CEO of Appdome when I spoke to him online recently.
This year, Appdome — the only cyber defense automation platform in the mobile economy — has released the results of a new survey revealing that Filipino consumers have higher expectations when it comes to mobile device and app security, fraud prevention, and malware protection compared to their global peers. The survey also found that Filipinos prefer apps that offer greater transactional freedom and are more inclined to choose apps that make transactions and interactions easier. Survey participants expect the best security and demand mobile app protections that go beyond the login screen and data protection, including anti-fraud and anti-malware protection built into the mobile app. Filipino consumers are also wary of mobile brands, with many ranking the “threat of on-device malware” equally to “a developer who does not care about my security.”
The survey found that approximately 58% of Filipinos now prefer using mobile apps over other digital channels to interact with brands, compared to 53.5% of global consumers. On top of that, 47.9% of Filipino consumers say they are spending more time on mobile apps, compared to 41.1% of global consumers. The survey also highlights a rapid growth in Filipino first use of mobile apps, signaling a massive shift and migration to mobile apps.
Filipinos love mobile apps that offer greater transactional freedom compared to global consumers. For example, 59.9% of Filipinos identify eWallet and mobile apps with eWallet capabilities as one of their top three (03) apps they use most often, a staggering 106% higher than the global baseline. The top mobile apps used by Filipinos also included social media apps and mobile games, closely followed by retail/shopping, mobile banking, and food delivery apps. In general, Filipinos are more inclined to choose apps that make transactions and interactions easier.
However, this presents a market opportunity for brands in the Philippines that prioritize consumer protection as a critical value proposition in their mobile apps. According to the survey, Filipino consumers will reward and promote brands that protect their mobile app data and use, but will also punish brands they perceive as leaving them unprotected. Brands are advised to take this shift seriously and allocate resources to protect better the mobile channel where their consumers live. The survey included respondents from across different demographics and is designed to inform Philippine-based mobile brands, cybersecurity professionals, and mobile developers to meet consumer expectations in the mobile channel.
Mobile brands are advised to take this shift seriously, and allocate resources to protect better where their consumers live — the mobile channel. The Appdome survey also revealed that 68.1% of Filipinos believe that protecting consumers against security, fraud, and malware is as important as new features in any app, eclipsing the global average of 62%.