State offers free app to protect Michigander's mobile devices

Threats to digital devices are everywhere these days, but the State of Michigan is providing a free, easy way for Michiganders to protect themselves with the Michigan Secure mobile application. The award-winning app can detect threats and suspicious activity on mobile devices and notify the user, doing so without collecting or storing any personal information.

Mobile security is extremely important as the number of threats continue to rise. Data released in the FBI’s Internet Crime Report reinforces the need for increased vigilance, as mobile devices are not exempt from threats. 

The report noted that:

• In 2021, 323,972 individuals in the U.S. reported falling victim to phishing, vishing, smishing, or social engineering.

• 36,034 cybercrimes reported to the FBI were facilitated through social media.

• Michigan reported $181.6 million in victim losses in 2021, placing eighth for highest victim losses for U.S. states and territories.

“Many people assume that their mobile devices are automatically safe and have security features installed,” said Laura Clark, state chief information officer. “No device is secure out of the box. They are susceptible to unsafe Wi-Fi, phishing attempts, and other threats that malicious actors use to gain information or control of a device. These are things that Michigan Secure will help detect on and alert users when suspicious activity occurs.”

Michigan Secure empowers users by informing them of the threats they encounter as they interact with an increasingly technology-driven world. The application warns users if the Wi-Fi they are trying to connect to could be compromised. Michigan Secure also verifies if links sent to a resident’s phone through email or text message are safe or possible phishing attempts. It can also scan other Android mobile apps for potential threats and alert users before they are downloaded. Michigan Secure scans a database of known threat indicators to notify individuals of activity on their phone that matches a documented threat.

“We hear from many residents who are surprised that the State of Michigan offers the Michigan Secure app for free,” said Clark. “In this day and age, it’s important to keep information on your phone private. The app’s code and privacy configuration settings have been specifically designed not to collect personal or device information to ensure the privacy of users. That’s a feature you won’t often see, even in security apps with a cost.”

Michigan Secure is available for mobile devices running iOS 11 or higher, Android 6.0 or higher, and Chromebooks with Android apps support. Michiganders can download Michigan Secure from the App Store or Google Play.

For additional information, visit Michigan.gov/MichiganSecureApp.

To learn more cybersecurity tips and tricks, visit the Michigan Cybersecurity website at Michigan.gov/Cybersecurity.