Mobile Apps Under Threat: AI-Powered Attacks Expose User Data Like Never Before

In 2025, the world of mobile applications is under growing threat. From Android to iOS, millions of apps collect, store, and exchange user data — and cybercriminals are taking full advantage. According to Exploding Topics, a staggering 82.78% of iOS apps track private user data. That’s over 1.5 million apps acting as potential goldmines for hackers.

These applications are not just data collectors — they are vulnerable entry points for cyberattacks. Experts warn that mobile apps lack strong built-in security. With the rise of AI-powered hacking tools, mobile users are now at a greater risk than ever before.

Why Mobile Apps Are Easy Targets

Unlike traditional desktop systems, mobile apps often have invisible vulnerabilities — such as API calls, background syncing, and push notifications — that legacy security tools may fail to detect. Users unknowingly grant excessive permissions, making it easy for malicious apps to exploit these access points.

Satish Swargam, a security expert at Black Duck Software, says,

“Most users broadly grant permissions. This opens the door for attacks through these invisible pathways.”

AI Is Supercharging Cybercrime

AI is revolutionizing the cybersecurity landscape — and not in a good way. Tom Tovar, CEO of Appdome, calls it a “dark renaissance” in cybercrime. He explains that AI-powered attacks can now bypass multi-factor authentication, hijack in-app transactions, and exploit memory bugs in real time.

Chris Hills from BeyondTrust adds:

“AI can scan and exploit flaws faster than any human ever could. This is why using AI for good is more important now than ever.”

In essence, AI has lowered the barrier for launching large-scale, targeted attacks, making every mobile device a potential victim.

Insecure App Design = Data Leaks

Many mobile apps are still not designed with security in mind. According to Chris Wingfield of 360 Privacy, apps leak metadata such as device location, install IDs, and user behavior — all of which can be exploited without needing full control over the device.

Wingfield warns,

“Attackers don’t need root access. They just need the data exhaust from your app.”

This quiet stream of telemetry can be stitched together to map user behavior, routines, and even identities.

Backend Vs. In-App Security

While many organizations invest in backend security and behavior analysis, experts argue that this isn’t enough. Kern Smith of Zimperium says that malware and runtime attacks often go undetected at the backend level.

T. Frank Downs from BlueVoyant adds:

“We’re protecting credentials, while the real target — telemetry — is quietly being harvested.”

Even though server-side holds the broader user data, the mobile endpoint remains a direct and often neglected target.

New Direction: In-App Protection

Industry leaders suggest combining traditional backend protection with in-app defenses. Tools that prevent reverse engineering, runtime tampering, and credential theft are becoming essential in the fight against advanced attacks.

Eric Schwake of Salt Security notes,

“In-app protection is vital for preventing direct attacks on apps and defending against the evolving threat landscape.”