Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

The rich are different, but their smartphones aren't

The rich are different, but their smartphones aren't

The world might be turning to technology to solve everything from traffic to dating, but no one app or gadget will save the rich and famous from falling prey to cyberattacks, according to digital security experts.

Tech giants spend millions of dollars every year to protect their top executives from all kinds of physical threats. Facebook allotted almost $20 million in 2018 for protecting CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his family at his residences and during travel. In 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook started using private jets paid for by the company because of safety concerns.

But when a report concluded that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked, it shifted people's attention to how high-profile people protect their cybersecurity.

"There's no perfect tech control against cyberattacks," said Roger Grimes, a security expert at KnowBe4 who trains its customers to raise cybersecurity awareness. High profile individuals are more vulnerable because they have less time for training but are exposed to more attacks, he said.

The rich and famous also can't buy phones that are more secure than the average, said Mark Nunnikhoven, vice president of cloud research at software security firm Trend Micro.

"The level of technology has become so advanced for everyone that there's no special class of phones that only the elite have access to," he said.
Companies looking to protect their top brass have started paying more attention to digital security over the past two years.
Aamir Lakhani, a researcher at IT security firm Fortinet, said the focus has normally been on corporations' own network, which includes teaching executives how to spot fraud in work emails.

Some smartphones use software that spots and removes malware, as well as web filtering tools that prevent employees from accessing websites that could be harmful. But firms can do more.

"I don't think they're really taking it to the point that they're telling their execs that, 'Hey, these threats are on you all the time. You have to be aware,'" Lakhani said. "They're hoping some tech solutions will solve that, but it's not going to."

That's because attacks like the one Bezos' suffered "are designed specifically to get around the tech solutions," Lakhani said.

The Amazon founder's phone was hacked in May 2018 after receiving a WhatsApp message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a video file, according to an analysis of the attack. Saudi Arabia has denied the accusations.

Smartphone users are conditioned to quickly reply to instant messages, which might lower their guard.

In 2018, Amazon spent $1.6 million on security for Bezos, according to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. But the company did not disclose how much went toward digital safeguards.


Taking cover


"Are you an executive with billion-dollar business information on your phone? There might likely be an adversary willing to invest significantly to obtain it," said Rod Soto, a cybersecurity researcher.

That's why well-known individuals should take steps beyond the recommended security measures for the average Joe. All smartphone users should turn on automatic software updates, create strong passwords and have their devices lock after 30 seconds or a minute of being idle, among other actions, Nunnikhoven said. Backing up data to the cloud is also key.

On top of that, executives and celebrities should reset their phones every couple of months, he suggested.

"If anyone did compromise your phone, you're wiping their foothold and they're going to have to hack back in," Nunnikhoven said. "For a normal person that's kind of extreme, but for a high profile individual that threat factor is different."

Famous people should also avoid downloading newly-launched apps and be "hyper aware" of how much information they allow apps to access. Soto also suggested having a phone just for travel and not putting any personal information on it.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
×