Progressive web applications (PWAs) are invaluable tools for business owners, enabling customers and employees to access and navigate your brand’s online presence more efficiently than traditional apps. PWAs enhance user experience by reformatting and resizing data for mobile friendliness, making them popular among leading brands like Spotify and Starbucks. However, there's a downside—malicious web app downloads are increasingly common.
It's crucial for your business to understand the threat of malicious PWAs and the defenses available to protect against them.
How Do Harmful PWAs Work?
Many business managers and owners consider PWAs superior to regular applications due to their streamlined installation process. Users can download PWAs online or from platforms like the Google Play Store. Once installed, a shortcut appears, allowing customers to access the app easily.
However, unlike traditional apps, clicking on a PWA opens the user’s web browser instead of the app itself. This opens the door to potential malware attacks, as search engines are rife with fake websites and applications. A malicious PWA might look identical to your business’s original one, but clicking on it could lead users to a counterfeit site designed to harvest data and steal credentials, such as passwords and credit card numbers. The consequences for your business can be devastating.
How Can You Protect Your Business from PWA Cyberthreats?
To avoid the theft, defamation, and revenue loss associated with malicious PWAs, consider these protective measures:
Don’t Ignore Abnormalities
Cybersecurity experts have highlighted the risks associated with PWAs, including phishing templates on platforms like GitHub. Their research shows that a lack of awareness makes users, particularly PWA novices, vulnerable. For instance, genuine PWAs always feature a URL bar.
Business owners should train employees to recognize such abnormalities. Are they able to distinguish between real and fake PWAs? Do they verify URL addresses for misspellings or extra/missing letters when downloading apps?
Track Non-Company Users
If hackers acquire the credentials needed to breach your company, they could steal sensitive personal information. It's essential to detect these attempts before any damage is done.
Monitor third-party activity in your database or operating system, restricting access to sensitive data to prevent breaches.
Never Delay Security Updates
Keeping your security measures up to date is vital in defending against malicious web app downloads. Implement the following practices:
- Download the latest iOS updates to patch any security leaks.
- Regularly update anti-virus and anti-malware software to alert you to suspicious files.
Integrated Technology Systems
Your business’s best defense against malicious PWAs is vigilance and proactive security measures. By training your staff to recognize threats, monitoring third-party access, and maintaining up-to-date security protocols, you can safeguard your business from potential cyberattacks.
At Integrated Technology Systems we have the tools to help you. We can train your employees to recognize a threat, keep your security current and update software and patches. Regardless of the size of your company, call us for your peace of mind.
Integrated Technology Systems
6 East 45th Street, Suite 400
New York, NY 10017
212-750-5420
https://www.itsnyc.com
