El Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad abordará la ciberseguridad en móviles en el Mobile World Congress

The Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), working under the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, will take an active role in the Mobile World Congress, the most important mobile industry event globally, to be held in Barcelona from 22 to 25 February.

INCIBE will explain that mobile devices, like computers, can suffer various types of cyberattacks, which is why it is important that they are protected from cybercriminals. Only 8.2% of Spanish mobile users report using encryption software to prevent third parties from being able to access the information contained on their device in the event that it is lost or stolen. Moreover, 59.9% admit that they do not use antivirus software on their mobile device. Both figures are taken from the Study on Confidentiality in Spanish Homes, carried out by the National Observatory for Telecommunications and the Information Society (ONTSI) and the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE).

Each year, more than 140,000 malicious programs for smartphones and tablets are detected, the main aim of which is to steal the user’s money or data. The Institute’s Internet User Security Office (OSI www.osi.es ) offers tools to support users, such as Conan Mobile, a free tool which allows Android users to analyse the security status of their device. It has been downloaded by more than 72,000 people and is currently installed on more than 33,000 devices. 

INCIBE activities at the Mobile World Congress

Representing INCIBE, the world-renowned cybersecurity experts Chema Alonso and Raúl Siles will lead a talk on mobile cybersecurity on Tuesday 23 February from 12:45 to 14:30. Specifically, Chema Alonso will offer an overview of the threats and strategies, while Raúl Siles will speak about trends in mobile threats. The experts will be introduced by INCIBE’s Director of Operations, Alberto Hernández. 

INCIBE’s Managing Director, Miguel Rego, will also accompany the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society, Víctor Calvo-Sotelo, in bilateral meetings with representatives of various countries including South Korea (with which he will sign a collaboration agreement) and Japan. There will also be meetings with government representatives from Mexico, which will host this year’s Meridian Conference. One of the world’s most important cybersecurity events, it is held in a different country each year. Argentina and Colombia will close this round of talks.

Finally, on Wednesday 24 February, INCIBE will exhibit the potential of Spanish talent in cybersecurity within the MWC’s 4YFN space. There, the results of the Spanish incubator, which promotes the creation of new startups, will be presented.

Last year, over 94,000 people from more than 200 countries attended the Mobile World Congress.