The city of Dallas, in partnership with Dallas-based Zimperium, is giving the city’s residents an early mobile security holiday present.

The partners announced the launch and public availability of “Dallas Secure,” a free mobile security application for Apple iOS and Android platforms. The app is aimed at protecting residents’ and visitors’ mobile devices from an increasing number of cyber threats. Cyber thieves are targeting the huge amount of data and info people put on their mobile devices through financial, health, business, shopping, and messaging apps, and more.

“Public safety comes first in Dallas—and cybersecurity is a form of public safety,” Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said in a statement. “It’s critical for our residents and for businesses to remain vigilant about their online safety in a 21st century economy. We must work collaboratively to ensure that Dallas is on the cutting edge when it comes to stopping cybersecurity threats.”

Dallas Secure was developed by Zimperium, a leader in mobile security, and is designed to secure devices against even the most advanced threats.

Zimperium CEO: ‘Digital safety is now a public safety issue’

Shridhar Mittal, CEO of Zimperium. [Photo: Zimperium]

Zimperium CEO Shridhar Mittal says that “digital safety is now a public safety issue.”

“We all have so much personal and business-related information on our mobile devices, making them rich targets for hackers,” Mittal said in a statement. “And many people can’t or don’t update their operating systems to keep up with the evolving threats, making them inherently insecure.”

“Being able to keep the residents of our hometown safe from mobile threats makes this a special project for Zimperium, and we’re extremely proud to be part of such a forward-looking city that clearly understands and cares about the wellbeing of its citizens—both online and off,” Mittal added.

Zimperium said it protects millions of users every day, and that its solution detects threats on the device itself, without the delays and privacy implications of cloud-based lookups. This ability is a critical requirement for a privacy-first solution like Dallas Secure. Zimperium also says it’s the only provider with proven, scalable and privacy-protecting Dallas Secure-like implementations.

Timed for increased cybersecurity during the holidays—and beyond

“It’s important, especially during this time of the year, to protect mobile devices from outside threats,” Councilmember Omar Narvaez said in a statement. “I’m excited that the city of Dallas is taking the necessary steps to empower residents to keep their devices safe.”

Dallas Secure equips residents’ mobile devices with the technology necessary to automatically analyze threats, the city said, while operating under a strict privacy policy and with layers of technical controls that ensure user privacy is respected.

The app works without accessing any personally identifiable information, and won’t collect or transmit any private data, the city’s statement added.

Nearly 50% of retail purchases could be by mobile device by 2025

More than half of all web traffic in the U.S. originates from mobile devices, and smartphones have become central to our lives, the city noted. For example, shoppers in the U.S. spent more than $359 billion through retail mobile-commerce purchases in 2021, up more than 15% year over year. By 2025, retail m-commerce sales could more than double to $728 billion, accounting for 44.2% of retail sales, the city said.

All that activity creates an increasingly valuable target for attackers and cyber criminals.

App spots fake holiday text deals and more

Dallas Secure provides users with immediate protection against new and evolving threats on their mobile devices, including text messages falsely promising holiday deals and coupons, malicious Wi-Fi networks tricking holiday travelers with the promise of a free internet connection, rogue QR codes deceitfully placed by bad actors, or numerous other tricks and techniques.

How it works

After the app is downloaded and installed, it alerts the device’s user to threats in real time and offers info on what to do about those threats, helping to stop attackers from accessing data stored or processed on the device— including credit card numbers or sensitive info from a corporation, government, or other entity a device owner works for or with.

Closing gaps in digital inequities

“The city of Dallas is becoming a leader in closing gaps in digital inequities in the community,” city of Dallas Chief of Staff Genesis Gavino said in a statement. “This app will help inform our residents about cybersecurity in a way that makes it easy to understand, which will empower them to take steps to protect their digital privacy.”

Complements Dallas’ Broadband and Digital Equity Strategic Plan

The city said Dallas Secure shows its commitment to bridging the digital divide in Dallas. In 2020, the city’s Broadband and Digital Equity Strategic Plan was developed in collaboration with the Dallas Independent School District. It identifies ways the city can bridge the digital divide through infrastructure investments, public-private partnerships, and programming, the city said.

“As we continue our efforts to bridge the digital divide by ensuring internet access for all, we also have a responsibility to make sure that doing so doesn’t create unnecessary threats to people’s security,” Dallas Councilmember Jaime Resendez said in a statement. “This app will go a long way towards protecting our residents.”

Dallas Secure is free to download in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

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