Mobile gaming is booming as more players are using their phones and other mobile devices to fill their leisure time. Not only is it easy, fun, and convenient, but it makes it possible for consumers to play pretty much wherever they are. According to The State of Mobile 2020 report from App Annie, mobile games now command 56% market share in gaming and 72% of all app store spend.
In 2019, consumer spend for games on mobile platforms outstripped spend on PC/Mac and consoles by nearly two-and-one-half and three times respectively. Further, App Annie reports that spending on mobile games across all app stores is predicted to top $100 billion in 2020. Overall, AppAnnie predicts the mobile industry is expected to contribute $4.8 trillion to the global GDP by 2023.
With this financial incentive, bad actors are looking to cash in. Our work with the gaming industry demonstrates that gamers are especially vulnerable to malicious actors who offer “cheats”, unauthorized modifications, in-game, and social currency boosts. And, with alarming frequency, these third-party feature “enhancements” come with other undesirable side-effects including malware or the theft of personal data.
But bad actors don’t limit their nefarious activities to gaming apps. In a blog we published in July, we reported that the most recent RSA Fraud and Risk Intelligence analysis revealed that mobile app related fraud increased to 26% of all fraudulent transactions.
Ensuring the safety of your consumers and the authenticity of their experience with your mobile apps is critical. Rogue apps and misleading activity hiding behind your brand’s intellectual property not only put your customers’ safety and security at risk but can lead to long term repercussions for your brand. With more people relying on mobile apps these days, it’s more important than ever to have a strong mobile apps component in your overall brand protection strategy.
For more information on how to plan an effective mobile app enforcement program to complement your overall mobile strategy, we’ve published an informative guide that you can download here.
