Top

Zimperium warns: mobile rooting and jailbreaking still a major security threat

As the global leader in mobile security, Zimperium, warns that mobile rooting and jailbreaking remain a persistent and evolving threat to enterprises worldwide. Rooted and jailbroken mobile devices bypass critical security protocols, leaving organizations vulnerable to mobile malware, data breaches, and full system compromises. Recent data from Zimperium’s zLabs team underscores the growing risks, with rooted Android mobile devices facing 3.5 times more mobile malware attacks and system compromise incidents rising by a staggering 250 times compared to non-rooted devices.

As cybercriminals have moved to a mobile-first attack strategy, rooting and jailbreaking of mobile devices—originally popular for customization—continues to be a very powerful attack vector. These modified mobile devices create entry points for threat actors to exploit security gaps, enabling sophisticated mobile attacks that can compromise an entire corporate network. At the same time, bad actors are using these devices to attack mobile applications with the intention to perform fraudulent activities. While mobile operating systems have implemented stronger defenses, the community behind mobile rooting tools continuously evolves to bypass detection. Tools like Magisk, APatch, KernelSU, Dopamine, and Checkra1n are in active development, introducing new stealth mechanisms that evade traditional mobile security measures.

“The cat-and-mouse game between security teams and mobile rooting tool developers is far from over,” said Nico Chiaraviglio, Chief Scientist at Zimperium. “What enterprises need is continuous, real-time detection of mobile tampering attempts—because once a mobile device is compromised, the risk to the entire organization skyrockets.”

Zimperium’s AI-driven, on-device mobile detection technology provides organizations with unparalleled visibility and protection against rooted and jailbroken mobile devices. Unlike conventional security solutions that rely only on cloud-based analysis, Zimperium’s machine learning engine identifies and responds to mobile threats in real time—detecting tampering attempts, mapping exploit methods, and mitigating risks before they escalate.

As cybercriminals refine their techniques, organizations must remain vigilant. A single compromised mobile device can serve as the gateway for data theft, ransomware, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Zimperium urges enterprises to prioritize mobile security, adopt proactive defenses, and leverage AI-powered mobile threat detection to stay ahead of adversaries.

To dive deeper into the evolving threats of mobile rooting and jailbreaking, read our latest blog.

For more information on how Zimperium protects enterprises from mobile threats, visit www.zimperium.com.

About Zimperium

Zimperium is the world leader in mobile security. Purpose-built for mobile environments, Zimperium provides unparalleled protection for mobile applications and mobile devices, leveraging AI-driven, autonomous mobile security to counter evolving threats including mobile-targeted phishing (mishing), mobile malware, mobile app vulnerabilities and compromise, as well as zero-day mobile threats. As cybercriminals adopt a mobile-first attack strategy, Zimperium helps organizations stay ahead with proactive, unmatched protection of the mobile apps that run your business and the mobile devices relied upon by your employees. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Zimperium is backed by Liberty Strategic Capital and SoftBank. Learn more at www.zimperium.com and connect on LinkedIn and X (@Zimperium).