Zimperium Warns of Surge in Mobile Cyber Threats as Summer Travel Heats Up

More than 5 Million Public Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks Detected in 2025; 33% of Users Still Connecting Despite Risks

DALLAS, TX – July 17, 2025 — As travel surges this summer, Zimperium, the global leader in mobile security, is sounding the alarm on escalating mobile cyber threats targeting employees on the move. According to new threat intelligence from Zimperium, over 5 million unsecured public Wi-Fi networks have been detected globally since the beginning of 2025—with a staggering 33% of users still connecting to these open networks, putting enterprise data at immediate risk.

“Mobile devices are now a primary gateway to corporate data, but during travel, they’re also the most vulnerable,” said Kern Smith, VP of Global Solutions  at Zimperium. “Unsecured Wi-Fi, phishing disguised as travel alerts, and risky sideloaded apps are creating an ideal attack surface for cybercriminals—especially in peak travel months.”

Global Hotspots and Rising U.S. Threats
Zimperium researchers have identified significant spikes in mobile malware activity across Southeast Asia, with Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines experiencing some of the highest infection volumes. Notably, Luxembourg has emerged as a global outlier with elevated mobile malware targeting international travelers and corporate devices.

In the U.S., major cities like Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Miami, and Seattle are now seeing increased levels of mobile threats, driven by high numbers of business and vacation travelers, high mobile usage, and widespread unsecured network access. For enterprises with mobile workforces, this trend represents a growing risk of data exposure and potential breach.

Mobile Threats Amplified by Travel
According to the Zimperium 2025 Global Mobile Threat Report, attackers are actively shifting to a mobile-first attack strategy. The most common threats facing traveling employees include:

• Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) Attacks via public or rogue Wi-Fi
• Phishing disguised as travel alerts, such as fake itineraries or boarding passes
• Risky sideloaded apps downloaded during travel
• Captive portals collecting emails or phone numbers, increasing phishing risk
  
  

“These are not hypothetical threats. They’re happening now, and they’re hitting devices that may lack even basic protection,” said Kern Smith.

Call to Action for Enterprises
Zimperium urges organizations to ensure visibility into all mobile endpoints, enforce device compliance, and block connections to unsecured networks. Businesses are encouraged to adopt enterprise-grade mobile threat defense to protect employee devices during travel.

For more details visit our Summer Travel Blog

To learn more about securing mobile devices during travel, visit: www.zimperium.com

About Zimperium
Zimperium is the world leader in mobile security. Purpose-built for mobile environments, Zimperium provides unparalleled protection for mobile applications and devices, leveraging AI-driven, autonomous security to counter evolving threats including mobile-targeted phishing (mishing), malware, app vulnerabilities and compromise, as well as zero day threats. As cybercriminals adopt a mobile-first attack strategy, Zimperium helps organizations stay ahead with proactive, unmatched protection of the mobile apps that run your business and the mobile devices relied upon by your employees. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Zimperium is backed by Liberty Strategic Capital and SoftBank. Learn more at www.zimperium.com and connect on LinkedIn and X (@Zimperium).