1. How at-risk is my smartphone now compared to a few years ago? How is the cybersecurity landscape around personal mobile devices evolving?
The UK has seen a worrying shift in how criminals target smartphones. Over 200 phone or bag snatch thefts happen every day in England and Wales, and the consequences go far beyond losing a device. A stolen phone can mean financial fraud, data breaches, and reputational damage—not just for individuals but also for businesses.
I know this firsthand because it happened to me. Losing my phone wasn’t just inconvenient; it also allowed criminals to access my financial, social, and corporate accounts. That’s why I created Nuke From Orbit, a security solution designed to instantly cut off criminal access and help victims regain control of their digital identities.
And the problem is getting worse:
- 62% of victims suffer further losses after their phone is stolen, with 1 in 5 having their banking apps breached and 1 in 4 losing money from their digital wallets.
- Police close 82% of cases without identifying a suspect, and just 0.8% lead to a conviction (Crime Survey for England and Wales).
With mobile payments now overtaking cash and card transactions in the UK, criminals are targeting smartphones for resale and the personal and financial data inside them. This means we must act now—before more people fall victim to this growing threat.
2. The rising cost of cybercrime: What does it mean for individuals and businesses?
Smartphone theft in the UK has more than doubled, with 78,000 reported incidents in the past year alone. That’s a sign of how much we rely on our mobiles in daily life—whether for banking, work, or social connections. But it also means the risks are more significant than ever.
I recently spoke with ethical hacker Nikhil Raine, who put it bluntly:
“Once criminals have access to your accounts, you’re at risk of a full-scale account takeover. If your phone is lost or stolen, you must act fast—report it to your bank, freeze your accounts, and change all your passwords. Check your bank statements regularly for suspicious transactions, and monitor your credit score. If your personal details end up on the dark web, you could face identity fraud, deepfake scams, and criminals impersonating you to steal from your friends and family.”
This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a long-term security risk that can impact everything from your finances to your reputation.
3. The role of AI: A game-changer in security—or a new weapon for criminals?
AI is already transforming mobile security, but its implementation presents serious challenges. While AI-driven fraud detection is improving, it still struggles to differentiate between genuine transactions and suspicious activity, especially when users make one-off or high-value purchases.
At Nuke From Orbit, we’re exploring how AI can analyse phone behaviour—like usage patterns, location data, and unexpected changes—to detect theft and trigger immediate protective
measures. However the challenge is ensuring accuracy without creating false alarms that frustrate users and lead them to disable security features altogether.
At the same time, criminals are weaponising AI to power a new wave of cybercrime. Voice cloning, AI-driven phishing, and deepfake scams are becoming more advanced, allowing hackers to impersonate people with alarming accuracy.
That’s why the tech, finance, and telecoms industries must step up—investing in AI-powered behavioural analysis and multi-layered authentication to keep people safe. But technology alone isn’t enough; user education is critical in helping people spot and avoid AI-powered scams.
4. Emerging threats: What should smartphone users be on the lookout for?
Cybercriminals are evolving their tactics. One growing concern is “shoulder surfing”—when criminals watch people enter their PINs or passwords in public places. It might sound low-tech, but it’s highly effective. A thief who spots your unlock code can steal your phone and access everything inside it within seconds.
Simple steps can help prevent this:
- Be aware of your surroundings when entering passwords.
- Use biometric authentication whenever possible.
- Enable privacy screens to block prying eyes.
Beyond that, there are clear warning signs that your phone may have been compromised. If you notice:
Unfamiliar activity on your accounts (transactions you didn’t authorise, messages you didn’t send). Strange app behaviour (apps opening or closing unexpectedly, settings changing on their own). Performance issues (sudden battery drain, overheating, or increased data usage).
These could all be signs that your device has been hacked. If that happens, act immediately: change all your passwords, run a malware scan, and use a security app to lock down your accounts before further damage is done.
5. Has remote work blurred the lines between personal and work devices?
Absolutely. Since the pandemic, the way we use our phones has changed dramatically. People now access confidential work emails, sensitive documents, and corporate messaging apps on personal devices—often without realising the security risks.
This is a huge problem because:
- Personal devices are harder for IT teams to secure.
- Work files and emails can be automatically backed up to personal cloud accounts.
- A single stolen phone can expose both personal and business data.
Companies need to get serious about this. If possible, issue dedicated work devices to employees. If that’s not an option, businesses should at least restrict access to critical systems on personal devices and use mobile device management (MDM) tools to enforce security policies.
Security and convenience will always be at odds, but businesses must accept that prioritising security may require trade-offs.
6. The future of mobile security: What needs to change?
The old security methods are no longer enough. Criminals are adapting, and cybersecurity needs to evolve just as fast.
When it comes to mobile payments, the stakes are incredibly high. Unlike contactless cards with transaction limits, smartphones provide seamless access to bank accounts, investment platforms, and crypto-wallets—making them a goldmine for criminals.
To combat this:
- Banks must educate users on treating their phones as critical security devices, not just everyday gadgets.
- AI-powered identity verification (KYC) must improve to detect fake IDs and prevent fraud.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA) should involve a secondary device, like a tablet or smartwatch, instead of relying solely on the phone.
- Consumers must take security seriously—using strong passwords, enabling 2FA, and adopting passkeys instead of traditional logins.
The future of mobile security is about more than stopping theft—it’s about preventing criminals from exploiting stolen devices. We can keep people safe in an increasingly digital world by staying ahead of emerging threats and embracing new security measures.
At Nuke From Orbit, our mission is simple: make smartphone theft as useless to criminals as possible. The more we raise awareness and push for better security, the harder we make it for hackers and thieves to profit from stolen devices.
It’s time to take mobile security seriously—before it’s too late.
- Cybersecurity
