2024 Mobile Security Roundup: Insights to Protect Your Phone

As mobile devices become increasingly central to our lives, their security remains a critical concern. In 2024, Certo Software helped hundreds of thousands of users secure their smartphones and safeguard their personal data.

By analyzing anonymized scan logs, we’ve gained valuable insights into the evolving mobile threat landscape. Here’s a look at the key findings from 2024 and what they reveal about the state of mobile security.

Mobile Threat Detection: Positive Trends in Security Awareness

In 2024, Certo users performed 698,032 scans, compared to 739,261 scans in 2023, reflecting a slight drop in scan activity. Additionally, the proportion of devices with medium or high threats detected also decreased—from 7.827% in 2023 to 6.263% in 2024.

This reduction could indicate that users are becoming more proactive about mobile security or that manufacturers are stepping up efforts to address vulnerabilities.

Top Mobile Spyware of 2024

Spyware continues to be a persistent threat. The most frequently detected mobile spyware apps last year were:

1. mSpy
2. Mobile Track
3. Hoverwatch
4. MobileTrackerFree
5. SpyHuman
6. Highster
7. BingoMod
8. TheTruthSpy
9. FlexiSpy
10. SpyToMobile

Many of these apps are marketed as “parental monitoring” tools but are frequently abused for unauthorized surveillance.

These tools can be used to monitor calls, messages, and locations without consent.

Security Vulnerabilities: Updates and Unsupported OS Versions

Outdated operating systems remain a significant issue in mobile security. In Q4 2024, 17.23% of scanned Android devices and 6.73% of iOS devices were running OS versions that no longer received security updates.

Additionally, 44% of iPhones did not have automatic updates turned on, with only 56% running the latest available update for their iOS version as of January 2025. Neglecting updates leaves devices vulnerable to new threats, which could otherwise be mitigated through regular patches.

Jailbreaking: A Persistent Risk

While jailbreaking is less common than in years past, it still poses a security risk for a notable segment of iPhone users. In 2023, 1.363% of iOS devices were jailbroken, which, given 1.382 billion active iPhone users, translates to approximately 18.8 million jailbroken and potentially insecure devices.

Data for 2024 is not yet available, but the risks associated with jailbreaking remain unchanged—bypassing Apple’s security restrictions significantly increases susceptibility to spyware and malicious software.

Family Location Sharing Apps: Convenience vs. Privacy

Family location-sharing apps surged in popularity in 2024, with Life360 leading the way. Here are the top 10 apps for family tracking this year:

1. Life360
2. AT&T Secure Family
3. Find My Kids
4. Tracki GPS
5. FamilyWall
6. Family Locator
7. Safe & Found
8. Boost Safe & Found
9. Glympse
10. mSpy Lite

While these apps offer convenience and peace of mind, they also introduce potential privacy risks if used without proper safeguards. It’s crucial to understand the permissions granted to such apps and ensure they come from reputable developers.

Key Takeaways for 2025

As we look ahead, mobile security remains a shared responsibility between device manufacturers, app developers, and users. Certo’s findings underscore the importance of:

1. Staying Updated: Enable automatic updates for your device’s operating system and apps.
2. Regular Security Scans: Use trusted tools like Certo to detect and remove threats.
3. Avoiding Jailbreaking: Preserve your device’s built-in security measures.
4. Being App-Savvy: Scrutinize the apps you install and their permissions, especially those related to location sharing.

By taking these steps, users can significantly reduce their risk of falling victim to spyware, outdated software vulnerabilities, and other mobile threats.