Nowadays there is hardly a person not using a smartphone. Smartphones and mobile devices as a whole have become our best friends that accompany everywhere and help us in a variety of tasks. However, it turns out that more than 50% of users are not protecting their mobile devices like they should. Many users don’t password-protect their mobiles and don’t use anti-theft solutions. This lack of security leaves both their devices and the stored information vulnerable to theft or hacking.
The Majority of Users Leave Their Mobile Devices Unprotected
These findings have been made by Kaspersky Lab via a survey which showed that less than 48% of survey participants password-protect their mobile device, and only 14% rely on encryption to protect their files and folders from unauthorized access.
The findings are quite troublesome since the majority of users have turned their mobiles into portative computers, using them for online shopping, online banking, social media activities, etc. The personally identifiable information stored on a mobile device can turn into a liability for a user, if accessed by the wrong person, to say the least.
As explained by Dmitry Aleshin, VP for Product Marketing, Kaspersky Lab:
We all love our connected devices because they give us access to vital information, from anywhere at any time. They are valuable items that criminals naturally want to get their hands on, and their job is made easier by the fact that every other pickpocketed phone is not password protected.
The survey also revealed that less than 41% of users make backups of their data and only 22% deploy anti-theft protection on their devices. What does the lack of protection mean for the owner of the mobile phone? If it is lost or stolen, all of the data stored from the connected personal accounts as well as photos and messages becomes readily available to a third party.
There are measures to be taken to avoid such a scenario.
“There are a few really simple things that everyone can do to secure their devices and the data they hold. By applying password protection and using a dedicated security solution, including anti-theft protection, you can protect your personal information, photos and online accounts from both loss and malicious usage,” the researcher highlighted.
In short, users should treat their mobile phones the same way they treat their personal computers. With the emergence of ransomware, people started to gain a perspective on how important it is to back up one’s data and to have adequate protection in place to avoid an attack. The same goes with mobile devices.
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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