PRINCETON, NJ - Mobile will be among the top priorities of the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) in 2012, according to Mike Mitchell, PCI SSC chairman, BankInfoSecurity.com reports.

"We have special interest groups that will be looking at how to take a risk-based approach to the next level," Mitchell said.

Because of its anticipated growth and adoption, mobile presents increasing concerns, and the council will need to address security risks for mobile payments, said PCI SCC General Manager Bob Russo.

"The adoption of mobile is running rampant, and when it comes to using personal mobile devices, people have not thought about all of the security," Russo said. "We have a task force looking at this, and in 2011 we issued some guidance. This year we will be issuing some best practices."

Mitchell noted mobile has the potential for mobile to transform the payments industry. "But with that potential are increased risks and increased vulnerabilities," he said. "We want security to remain at the center of the payments evolution."

One focus of the council will be to review the mobile security advantages provided by the Europay, MasterCard, Visa standard (EMV).