Kaspersky Lab and WISeKey launch secure mobile app to keep cyber-attackers out in the cold

Kaspersky Lab and WISeKey, a Swiss-based cyber-security company, announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos the launch of the WISeID Mobile Security Cyber-Resilience app that protects a user’s most personal and valuable information from cybercriminals.

Tackling cybercrime is a global issue, and partnering for cyber-resilience is a key objective for the World Economic Forum in 2016.

The WISeID Mobile Security Cyber-Resilience app includes Kaspersky Mobile Security SDK, a powerful solution for protecting mobile apps that adds advanced security features like award-winning anti-malware engine, web and network protection, device and data protection as well as risk detection.

WISeID keeps passwords in an encrypted vault, generates hard-to-crack new passwords as required, and safely synchronizes data between computers and devices on multiple platforms, using secure cloud storage.

The vault can be unlocked only with the user’s Master Password and/or defined pattern, with additional face-recognition authentication protection. With simple one-click website access, WISeID is a great choice for extra personal security.

The new WISeID Mobile Security Cyber-Resilience Edition integrates the best technologies from both partners, WISeKey and Kaspersky Lab, to create a unique identity for the device user and provides a secure personal data vault for account usernames, passwords, credit-card numbers and access PINs – information highly sought after by cybercriminals as well as real-world attackers intent on device theft for data extraction.

“The landscape of cyberthreats is becoming increasingly complex, and we’re investing a lot of effort into staying a step ahead of advanced cybercriminals. A growing number of business transactions are carried out with mobile devices, and a huge amount of sensitive data is stored in them; all this makes them high-profile targets for criminals. That’s why fighting against mobile threats is such an important activity for my company,” said Eugene Kaspersky, Chairman and CEO of Kaspersky Lab.

“Mobile security threats are on the rise as hackers look for new and better ways to hijack devices, for example for Bitcoin mining, cyber-espionage and to trick users into revealing their personal identity and bank account information,” said Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey.

“Today’s mobile operating systems offer significant security features, but the temptation presented by the sheer number of mobile phones in use means that criminals, both virtual and real, are not easily put off. The inventiveness that hackers apply to trick users into installing their predatory apps is a tribute to the dark side of human ingenuity,” he added.

Just last month, Kaspersky Lab and WISeKey have announced their partnership which aims to strengthen the protection for wearable devices as use for mobile and contactless payments takes off.

With smart watches, fitness trackers and payment wristbands expected to account for one in five mobile payment transactions by 2020 – representing $500 billion a year* – it is inevitable that they will become a growing target for cyber-attacks, according to WISeKey and Kaspersky Lab.

The interaction between devices, known as the Internet of Things (IoT) is set to transform the business and consumer landscape.

The market for connected wearables alone is estimated to be growing by 35% a year**. However, many connected devices and the data they exchange remain worryingly unprotected, and this will become even more serious as more of them are used to make payments.

Under the new partnership, Kaspersky Lab’s secure software development kit for mobile devices will be included in this solution, adding a further layer of security and paving the way for ultra-secure mobile payments.

“This cooperation between WISeKey and Kaspersky Lab represents a breakthrough in IoT cyber-security. The combination of trust and convenience that will be delivered to wearable devices opens the door to implementations in other sectors, where the same approach can support a variety of other IoT applications,” said Moreira.

“We live in a truly connected world. But as the number of connected devices continues to grow, so does the number of threats. And unfortunately there are millions of devices in active use today that were never designed to be secure. But security should be built-in from the very outset. There’s an urgent need to establish and implement higher levels of security for IoT devices, and we’re happy to work with WISeKey in the development of such a solution,” said Kaspersky.