A 2019 study by Check Point, a cyber-security firm, found that cyber-attack on smartphones and other mobile devices increased by 50% in the first half of 2019 compared to 2018. Smartphones have a rich cocktail of technical features which make them susceptible, and a larger 3.5 billion smartphone users base make them attractive to cyber attackers.
Loss, theft, or misplacement, unauthorized device and data access, malware, electronic eavesdropping, electronic location tracking are some of security risks associated with smartphones. Also, decrease in smartphone prices and their increased penetration in corporate communications have made it vital for smartphone manufacturers to protect users from security risks.
These scenarios have brought both challenges and opportunity for smartphone players. The global size of mobile security market was $19.83 billion in 2019. It is estimated to touch $122.89 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 25.8% during 2020-27.
Year Wise Patent Filing Trends in Security/Authentication
40,349 patent applications are filed during 2007-2018 in mobile security/authentication in the US. Number of patent applications filed per year increased continuously till 2014 and thereafter number of application filed has been decreasing every year.
Most of the patent applications filed in the segment are examined at USPTO’s Technology Centers 3600, 2400, and 2600. These technology centers are heavily impacted by the Alice vs CLS Bank case of 2014.
Top US Patents Holders of Mobile Security/Authentication Technologies
