The invisible threat: how mobile device hacks can compromise your organization

By Nir Avraham and Hu Ke

In today’s increasingly connected world, our mobile devices have become extensions of our personal and professional lives. We rely on them to manage emails, log into critical accounts, communicate with coworkers via tools like Slack/Teams and even authenticate with 2FA.

While this convenience has transformed the way we work, it has also introduced significant risks — especially when attackers gain access to these devices.

What happens when a mobile device is hacked?

Imagine an attacker has full control of an employee’s mobile device. Whether it's a company-owned or a BYOD device, the consequences are the same: the attacker now has a window into everything. Personal photos, sensitive business communications, bank accounts, passwords and 2FA codes are all exposed. But the danger doesn’t stop there. If this device is connected to the organization’s email, intranet or other internal resources, the attacker could potentially compromise the entire company network or steal data from it. All the while, the employee remains unaware, assuming their device is secure while the attacker monitors their every move.

The BYOD trap

Many organizations fall into the trap of thinking that BYOD devices don't need the same level of protection as company-owned devices. After all, they’re personal devices, right!? This thinking is flawed. Even though these devices may not belong to the company, they still have access to sensitive company data, emails, messaging apps, corporate VPNs and more.

And here’s the catch: these personal devices may not always follow corporate security standards, leaving them more vulnerable to sophisticated attacks.

Without proper safeguards, companies are leaving an open door for attackers to walk through.

The silent attacker: live monitoring without detection

Many organizations are not aware of how easily mobile devices can be compromised. In many cases, the victim has no idea that their device has been compromised. The attacker can be watching in real time, viewing emails, reading Slack messages and intercepting 2FA codes without the user’s knowledge. This makes detection even more critical, as organizations may not realize they’re being attacked until it’s too late.

The need for proactive protection

Organizations can’t afford to ignore the risks posed by compromised mobile devices.

Whether issuing a company device or allowing personal mobile use, every device with access to sensitive company data or applications is a potential entry point for an attacker. That’s why it’s crucial to have a solution in place that can detect and prevent these kinds of attacks — before they cause damage.

Organizations that have embraced mobility must begin to protect these devices like their desktop equivalents; attack prevention and proactive monitoring are necessary to protect both employees and sensitive company data.

Demo

We will showcase a scenario where a device has been compromised without the victim’s knowledge. The device is not running any protective security software.

All the information shown here is fictional, and the demonstration has been simulated for illustrative purposes. In this demo video, you will see how the attacker can access the victim’s email, Slack, 2FA and other personal data on their device, highlighting the potential risk of sensitive work information being stolen.

Key takeaways for protecting your devices and data

To safeguard against the risks posed by compromised mobile devices, organizations must take a proactive, comprehensive approach. Here are three key actions organizations can implement to protect both company and personal data:

1. Enforce secure configurations to maintain compliance on both company-owned and BYOD devices

• Why it matters: Whether the device is company-owned or part of a BYOD program, both types of devices are access points to sensitive business information. Personal devices should not be treated as lower risk, as they may not comply with necessary security standards.
• How Jamf helps: Jamf can enforce consistent security policies across all devices, ensuring they meet corporate security standards. This includes enforcing strong password requirements, encryption, and remote updates for both company-issued and personal devices, ensuring that all devices — regardless of ownership — are secure and compliant with organizational policies.

2. Enable remote monitoring and threat prevention while preserving end-user privacy

• Why it matters: A key challenge in securing mobile devices is monitoring for threats without violating user privacy. Attackers can take control of devices without detection, but organizations must be careful not to compromise personal data in the process.
• How Jamf helps: Jamf provides robust mobile threat defense that monitors device activity and prevents attacks while maintaining strict boundaries around personal data. With Jamf’s privacy-preserving approach, only corporate data and apps are actively monitored, ensuring that employees’ personal information (like private photos, messages and apps) remains untouched. In the event of an attack, Jamf is able to take targeted actions to protect company data without compromising personal data. For example, Jamf can block web connections for data exfiltration or command and control, limiting the effectiveness of the attack. This allows for effective security monitoring without compromising end-user privacy.

3. Implement secure access and data protection features

• Why it matters: If a device is lost or stolen, encrypted data is much harder for an attacker to access. Without encryption, sensitive company and personal data could be exposed, leading to significant security and privacy risks.
• How Jamf helps: Jamf enables organizations to enforce device encryption across all managed devices. Whether an employee’s phone is lost, stolen or compromised, encrypted data remains secure, and accessible only to authorized users. Additionally, Jamf provides tools to remotely lock or wipe devices, offering an additional layer of protection if a device is compromised or at risk.

Conclusion: a proactive approach to mobile security

The risks posed by compromised mobile devices are real and significant. Whether company-owned or personal, mobile devices are gateways to sensitive business and personal data, making them attractive targets for attackers.

Organizations must adopt a proactive approach to mobile security by implementing comprehensive, flexible solutions that address security requirements. With Jamf, companies can effectively manage and secure their mobile devices, ensuring that employees stay productive without compromising the integrity of corporate data or their personal privacy. By enforcing security policies, enabling threat detection, and performing threat hunting to mitigate hidden, sophisticated threats, organizations can ensure robust data protection by reducing risks and defending against mobile device breaches before they occur.