M1 launches service to combat mobile malware

SINGAPORE — Telecommunications company M1 yesterday unveiled a new service to help smartphone users protect their devices against malware.

M1’s Mobile Guard, powered by Nokia’s NetGuard Endpoint Security network-based anti-malware solution, detects malicious activity on a phone and notifies the user of suspicious activities. Priced at S$2 a month, it will be available starting today through the My M1 app, M1’s hotline and any M1 Shop outlet islandwide.

The service works by checking devices accessing M1’s mobile network for signs of malware infection.

Once Mobile Guard determines that a customer’s device has been compromised, it triggers an SMS and an e-mail alert to the customer, who can then utilise the bundled anti-malware solution.

M1’s Chief Innovation Officer Alex Tan said: “M1’s Mobile Guard is the only solution in our market to offer always-on, end-to-end network-driven malware protection — helping customers perform a device health assessment, detecting and alerting customers to a threat, and helping them eliminate any threat found.”

Cyber threats have been increasing, raising the security stakes as the smartphone becomes an essential part of users’ lives, being widely used for making financial transactions as well as storing personal and professional information.

Smartphone infections grew some 400 per cent last year, Nokia said in a malware report earlier this year. Mr Nicolas Bouverot, Head of Asia South at Nokia, said the security solution is designed to combat today’s more sophisticated malware threats and “provides complete peace of mind for M1 subscribers by delivering the highest levels of security for mobile and IoT (Internet of Things) devices.”

IT security software company Trend Micro said in a report published last week that more than 47 million malicious mobile apps were downloaded by users in the Asia Pacific in the first half of the year, much more than those from other regions.

Users in Europe, Middle East and Africa downloaded 30 million such apps, while users in North America and Latin America downloaded 8 million and 6 million such apps, respectively, according to the report.