The Lookout Blog

Mobile Threat Reporting: Context Matters

Sometimes in the news you’ll notice that companies use huge percentage numbers to report on the state of the mobile security. In some cases this can be extremely informative but in other instances, the stats are daunting, create FUD and ultimately don’t provide real value to people who want to know how to keep their phone safe. While threat statistics can be informative, as they provide valuable knowledge about mobile threats on the rise, context needs to be given in order to help people understand the true risk of encountering a security threat.

That’s why at Lookout we take a different approach to mobile threat reporting. It’s all about providing context. For instance, when it comes to overall malware growth, we tend to look at the number of malware variants and how it relates to a user’s risk. For example, after reviewing how many threats were detected across our user base, we determined a person’s likelihood of encountering a threat over a year. In 2011, we found that a person has a 4% annual likelihood of encountering malware. Absolute numbers and risk assessments keep things in perspective without promoting anxiety.

Also, sometimes a growth number isn’t the most important statistic to people – it actually does a disservice to people who want to have an accurate understanding of mobile threats. That’s why at times we focus on educating people about new families of malware, the places that malware is being distributed and the variance of new threat strains. It gives people a more complete understanding.

If our information isn’t going to help people in some way, be it protection from an existing threat or the inside scoop on a new trend, we won’t sound the alarm. With the right information on mobile threats and a reasonable level of awareness of risks, we think people can do more with their phones — no fear necessary.

Drop us a note in the comments section if you have feedback for us!