The state of Michigan has launched Michigan Secure, a free app to help residents detect cyber threats to their mobile devices.
“Our reliance on mobile devices has been met with a surge in activity by cybercriminals looking to access those devices to steal our personal information, and possibly much worse,” Department of Technology, Management, and Budget Director and State CIO Brom Stibitz said. “The Michigan Secure app is a huge step towards protecting Michiganders from these criminals and giving us all some peace of mind as we use our phones and tablets.”
The app warns users if the Wi-Fi they are trying to connect to could be compromised, as well as scan other apps for potential threats and alert users before they are downloaded. The app also pulls from a database of potential threat indicators and can notify individuals of activity on their phone that matches a documented threat.
In a statement, Stibitz reassured residents that though the app needs access to some parts of a user’s mobile device to do its job, protecting privacy was top of mind for state leaders. The state noted the app’s code and privacy configuration settings have received the approval of the American Civil Liberties Union for the way the settings protect individual privacy.
“While the security of our mobile devices is critical, it is also important to respect people’s privacy,” explained Stibitz. “Michigan Secure does not require anyone to share their personal information or mobile data. It exists for the sole purpose of detecting threats and notifying the user.”
The app is available for mobile devices running iOS 11 or higher, Android 6.0 or higher, and Chromebooks with Android Apps Support.
