As the Christmas holidays approach, many people shut down their work computers and rely on their mobile phones to keep track of work. Peo Strindlund, Nordics country manager at Jamf, warns that the mobile phone — perhaps the most central device in our daily lives and our most important work tool — often lacks the security found on work computers. Alarmingly, as many as 30 percent of all phones are missing a simple but vital protection: a PIN code.
“We still see that many underestimate how attractive a mobile phone is to criminals. Enabling a PIN and FaceID, and never leaving your device unattended, are basic steps that make an enormous difference,” says Peo Strindlund.
Mobile thefts are on the rise, particularly in big cities like London, where organized rings use stolen phones to drain bank accounts and make purchases in the owner’s name.
At the same time, digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. According to Strindlund, it is high time users adopt modern authentication methods such as passkeys, which make it significantly harder for attackers to compromise accounts using stolen or guessed passwords.
“Phishing and social engineering are becoming more sophisticated every month. Our data shows that social engineering attacks are 50 percent more successful on mobile devices than on computers, which makes the phone a primary target,” Strindlund adds.
Another growing threat is AI-driven fraud. Fake voice calls, manipulated videos and deceptive QR codes are being used to direct users to websites that harvest personal information.
“AI does not help only the good actors — fraudsters also use the technology to create highly convincing scenarios. You should be suspicious when something seems ‘too perfect’,” he says.
Strindlund also highlights a non-technical but significant risk: social media.
“Posts about travel plans or being away from home can be a goldmine for an attacker. Think twice before posting anything over Christmas and New Year,” concludes Peo Strindlund.