Sophos rolls out latest version of free Android security app

• Now includes spam filter capabilities for text messages and calls
• 60% of mobile phone users have received at least one spam text messages in past year

SOPHOS has introduced the latest version of its free Android security app, Sophos Mobile Security, which now includes spam filter capabilities for text messages and calls.
 
The filter rules can block specific phone numbers and calls with a hidden caller ID, as well as text messages with potential malicious URLs, the company said in a statement.
 
Every incoming call or text message is scanned by the app’s Spam Protection feature and the active filter rules are applied successively. Blocked calls and text messages are logged in the Quarantine folder, where they can be restored as needed, Sophos said.
 
Sending unsolicited commercial text messages is illegal under civil law and anyone who receives a spam text message should neither click on a link nor reply to a message, the company added.
 
According to the US Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, about 60% of mobile phone users have received one or more spam text messages during the past year, with about 15% clicking on the link included in the message.
 
“People trust their personal devices, but security requires vigilance,” said Chris Hazelton, research director, Mobile & Wireless for 451 Research.
 
“Gone are the days when hackers merely distributed malware via app stores; these days, consumers are seeing growth in text spam and malicious URLs sent directly to their phones.
 
“And this growth makes mobile security offerings that filter out the noise of unwanted messages all the more important, especially as smartphones are increasingly the primary device for everyday use,” he added.
 
Sophos product management head Thomas Lippert said, “SMS spam and SMiShing (SMS phishing) continue to grow at a rapid pace, as there are billions of mobile phone subscribers who use text messaging.
 
“And more spam means greater annoyance and risk to consumers, as many people trust messages that come directly to their phones or don’t necessarily think about what links they’re actually clicking,” he added.
 
Sophos Mobile Security is offered for free in its stand-alone version at Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sophos.smsec.
 
Additionally, Sophos Mobile Security integrates into the company’s flagship mobile device management and security solution, Sophos Mobile Control, providing full administrator management and compliance enforcement.

 
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow @dnewsasia on Twitter or Like us on Facebook.