Using superapps means attracting super threats

SUPERAPPS have become indispensable for many people in Asia, serving as a passport to access an ecosystem of multiple goods and services. The facility to book transportation, make hotel reservations and get food delivered to your doorstep - all in a single app - has changed the way consumers in Asia interact with businesses.

With a suite of APIs (application programming interfaces) and open platforms, what were once mere apps for booking taxis, have now become gateways for digital innovation. Many have assumed a disruptor role in these emerging markets, taking on giants in the banking and financial sector and advancing research in autonomous transportation.

An initiative such as Grab's partnership with ZhongAn, a Chinese insurance provider, is one example, enabling Asia's unbanked millions to access financi…