Software Security Risks in Mobile E-Commerce

Most current e-commerce transactions are conducted by users in fixed locations using workstations and personal computers. Soon, we expect a significant portion of e-commerce will take place via wireless, Internet-enabled devices such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants. Wireless devices provide users mobility to research, communicate, and purchase goods and services from anywhere at anytime without being tethered to the desktop. Using the Internet from wireless devices has come to be known as mobile e-commerce, or simply "m-commerce," and encompasses many more activities than merely online purchasing. One of the major wireless applications is Web access for retrieval of real-time information such as weather reports, sport scores, flight and reservation information, navigational maps, and stock quotes. While email will continue to dominate wireless applications, innovative online applications that, for instance, use location reference information of end users will drive new areas of mobile e-business growth.