The latest Kaspersky Lab research shows that half of mobile devices worldwide are at risk of cybercrime and malicious threats due to a lack of adequate protection. The research highlights the lack of awareness about effective mobile device protection.
The research, unveiled last week to support Europol's Mobile Malware Awareness Campaign as part of European Digital Security Month, was conducted by Kaspersky Lab to better understand how aware users are of the online threats they face and how they protect themselves from them.
Of the 12,000 respondents surveyed across 21 countries, we found that only 57% of tablets in Europe have a security solution installed, compared to 53% for smartphones. Europeans tend to protect their computers (89%) more than their mobile devices, a misguided judgment when you consider how much important and personal information is stored on mobile devices these days.
The survey shows that users are unaware of the need to protect their mobile devices with a security solution. While 54% of European users believe that their desktops and laptops definitely need security software, only 42% of them believe the same when it comes to smartphones and tablets. In fact, a worrying proportion of European users (20%) are not even fully aware of mobile malware.
Some – but arguably very few – users try to protect their mobile devices. However, users largely limit this protection to the use of passwords. 75% of European users have a password on their computers and 63% protect their smartphone in this way. This is worrying because, while passwords may protect the physical device from being used by unwanted others, they offer no protection against malware, fraud or spear phishing attacks, which can occur when unsuspecting users have their devices in their hands. Only 40% of European consumers protect their mobile devices with both a password and a security solution, leaving over half of the mobile devices worldwide vulnerable to crime.
The findings are alarming considering the proliferation of online risks that mobile devices and their users are exposed to. Many of these risks are simply a consequence of people's online activities and the fact that they store and exchange data via their mobile devices every day.
The survey found that among Europeans who had faced digital threats, 12% had experienced an “infection” of their Android smartphone, while 22% had experienced their data being stolen via their Android smartphone.
Victor Yablokov, Head of Mobile Product Line at Kaspersky Lab, said: “Mobile devices are an important part of our lives. They not only hold important information, but they are our gateway to services such as online banking, email, photo sharing, communication with loved ones and more. Not protecting these devices is not an option if we want to protect what matters most to us. But with only half of mobile devices effectively protected, there is much more work to be done to ensure we are safe from digital threats.
At Kaspersky Lab, we want to help people become aware of the risks they expose themselves to. The more technologically literate they become, the better prepared they are for the online world and the dangers it brings with it.”.
To help users protect their mobile devices from digital crime, Kaspersky Lab has developed Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. It protects smartphones and tablets from dangerous applications and websites, ensures user privacy thanks to call and text filtering, and the anti-theft function protects the security of the user's data in case the device is lost or stolen.
Mobile malware is also the theme of Europol's campaign for this year's Digital Security Month, the annual EU campaign taking place in October and aimed at raising awareness of cybersecurity threats, promoting cybersecurity among citizens and providing up-to-date security information through education and sharing good practices.
