Michigan offers device security app

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) wants to help you protect the apps on your mobile device.

Michigan Secure is an app offered for free to Michigan residents. The app notifies you about settings or activities that could put your mobile device at risk.

“It also has the ability to detect and report potential phishing attacks or malicious sites that you might be trying to access,” said Jayson Cavendish, Michigan’s Chief Security Officer. “And it will also tell you whether the wireless access point and the wireless network that you’re connected to are secure or not.”

When Michigan Secure detects a threat, the app will display an alert with recommended ways to deal with the threat.

Neither Zimperium, the app developer, nor the state of Michigan have access to text messages, photos, emails, or any other personal information on your device.

DTMB stated that Zimperium only sees:

• Device ID (an anonymous, randomly generated number that can be used to identify how many people have downloaded Michigan Secure at any given time).
• Device type (whether the device identifier is associated with an iOS or Android device) and current version of Michigan Secure.

Michigan Secure monitors your device and Wi-Fi networks in real time to identify potential threats. For Android users, Michigan Secure will also detect if a downloaded app may be dangerous.