Mobile Security: Verizon Says Attacks Soar, AI-Powered Threats Raise Alarm

Verizon’s 2025 Mobile Security Index, published on 23 October 2025, finds that 85% of organisations report a surge in mobile device attacks, a trend that crosses size, location and industry boundaries. The survey indicates that more than three-quarters of organisations believe AI-assisted threats such as SMS phishing and deepfakes are likely to succeed, with 34% concerned that the increasing sophistication of AI-powered attacks will significantly raise their exposure.

However, only 17% have implemented specific security controls against AI-assisted attacks and just 12% have deployed protections against deepfake attacks. The study also notes that almost all participants’ employees regularly use gen-AI tools on mobile devices, and two-thirds worry that staff could disclose sensitive data to AI chatbots.

On resilience, 89% of organisations report having a dedicated mobile security budget, and about 75% have increased mobile security spending in the past year, with many expecting further increases. The report highlights downtime, data loss and financial penalties as common consequences for those experiencing mobile-related incidents, with significant reputational damage reported by 28%.