Security experts say mobile dangers exaggerated

Simple measures can offer protection, though the risks are growing

A leading expert has warned that the security dangers caused by staff using mobile devices have been over-hyped by many vendors.

Raimund Genes, Chief technology officer of web security firm Trend Micro, said the biggest concern for IT managers is not viruses targeted at mobile devices but the risk of devices being lost or stolen. For this reason firms should ensure data is encrypted or can be locked down, he added.

"End-users believed the hype [about security risks of mobiles] but we listen to enterprises and some took the time to analyse the situation, and found there was not [a great threat]," Genes said.

However, Genes admitted that as mobile devices become more popular as business tools and the more vulnerable Windows Mobile 5.0 platform is increasingly deployed, firms are likely to encounter more dangers.

He added that internet service providers (ISPs) are ignoring their responsibility to spot and prevent denial of service attacks and web-borne threats. "The problem is that ISPs don't care, because it doesn't earn them any more money by telling [firms] there is a security problem, but sooner or later they will address the problem," Genes said.