Retailers need to address security issues to reassure shoppers that they can shop with confidence.
Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas Tops List of Malls with Most Malicious Wi-Fi Networks; and malicious shopping-related apps could pose a threat to unwary shoppers this holiday season, according to a new Skycure Mobile Threat Intelligence Report advising shoppers to beware of mobile threats while browsing in both physical and online stores.
According to this quarter’s Skycure analysis, Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas was the most dangerous place for shoppers on mobile devices, with 14 Wi-Fi networks found to be malicious or risky to connect to. The second riskiest mall in the US for mobile devices is Tyson’s Corner Center in McLean, Virginia.
But malicious Wi-Fi connections are not the only threat lurking for holiday shoppers. The report also found malicious apps masquerading as legitimate online stores or ways to get online shopping bargains, hoping to lure unsuspecting shoppers eager to make a quick purchase on their phones or tablets.
“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a recipe for cyber-scams,” said Yair Amit, CTO and co-founder of Skycure. “The first brings large groups of people using their mobile phones to one place. The second attracts people who might overlook security to get a better deal. Unfortunately, mobile threats exist for shoppers whether they’re shopping in a store, or on a mobile device from the comfort of their own home or workplace.”
So what does this report mean for retailers, who are dependent on Holiday shoppers for their livelihood?
According to industry statistics, 90 percent of shoppers used a mobile phone inside of a physical store to either look up product information, compare prices or check reviews online in 2015. That means that retailers should be doubling down on security and help provide secure-connection apps and platforms for their customers to ensure the protection of their sensitive data. Posting legitimate Wi-Fi connect settings and addresses can also help reduce risk for shoppers in-store.
Below is the list of the top 10 malls with highest number of suspicious Wi-Fi networks. All the shopping centers listed below were found to have five or more risky Wi-Fi networks.
