Kaspersky Lab Survey Shows People Take Their Mobile Devices Everywhere

Woburn, MA – November 9, 2015 - The Consumer Risks Survey by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International shows how unwilling people are to stop using their mobile devices while doing other things. The results showed that 29 percent take them into the bathroom, 41 percent use them in the car and 58 percent won’t part with them in bed.

In addition, the study found that the overwhelming majority of people (87%) store important, confidential and sometimes irreplaceable information on their smartphones, including passwords, photos, contacts, and files. One in four said their device carries sensitive information they wouldn’t want anyone else to see. 

With the amount of personal data that is stored on a mobile device and for the level of importance people place on their devices – essentially not letting the device out of sight – it’s crucial that people put the proper security protections in place.

Outside the home, these devices face potential risks that include damage, loss and theft, but also hacking by cybercriminals intent on stealing data or even spying on the user. Devices that are also used on open Wi-Fi networks are particularly vulnerable to attack. The report found that just 26 percent of consumers adapt their online activity when on an insecure public Wi-Fi network, despite the fact that hackers can easily intercept data and passwords. Precaution should also be taken at home. Here, risks such as spying through a webcam can occur, particularly in sensitive places such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

“The bond of trust between consumers and their devices can lead them to forget about security. It’s hard to imagine that something we carry close to us at all times and turn to for everything, could ever be used as a threat. A failure to appreciate the potential risks and to protect our devices and information accordingly could mean the loss of confidential information, money and even identities. Security is simply not an optional extra,” said Victor Yablokov, Head of Mobile Product Line at Kaspersky Lab.

To ensure the safety of your device, Kaspersky Lab recommends that people always set strong passwords for devices and for their online accounts, install a trusted security solution such as Kaspersky Total Security, and take care when accessing websites and downloading apps, particularly over insecure Wi-Fi networks.

To check if your online behavior is safe, follow https://blog.kaspersky.com/cyber-savvy-quiz. To get more tips on how to be protected, check https://blog.kaspersky.com/tag/cybersavvy.

About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is one of the world’s fastest-growing cybersecurity companies and the largest that is privately-owned. The company is ranked among the world’s top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users (IDC, 2014). Since 1997 Kaspersky Lab has been an innovator in cybersecurity and provides effective digital security solutions and threat intelligence for large enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Kaspersky Lab is an international company, operating in almost 200 countries and territories across the globe, providing protection for over 400 million users worldwide.

Learn more atwww.kaspersky.com.

Media contact:
Sarah Kitsos
sarah.kitsos@kaspersky.com
781-503-2615