Loss of contact information the greatest fear followed by expense; one in ten would forgo a $10,000 lottery win rather than lose their mobile phone
Sydney, AUST – 11 July, 2012 – As technology evolves, so does the way we interact with others around us. Our mobile phones are a means of fulfilling our on-the-go, Internet-dependant lifestyles. Today, Norton released a survey that sheds light on Australians’ mobile phone usage habits, the importance of their personal information, and their level of understanding when it comes to mobile security.
Mobile phone – a necessity in our lives
Australians are no longer using their mobile phones just to stay connected, but also to fulfill necessary daily tasks and engage in leisurely activities that enhance their lifestyle. The survey uncovered that 80 percent of the online population in Australia possesses at least one mobile phone. While 92 per cent of respondents access the Internet via their computers, over half (53 percent) use their phones to access the Internet, highlighting that Australians like to stay connected on the go. The top online mobile phone activities include social networking (47 percent), reading the news (36 percent) and mobile banking and payments (30 percent). These activities are closely followed by online messaging (19 percent), online shopping (16 percent); and location-based tasks, including navigation (13 percent).
Need for greater awareness of mobile security
While 51 percent Australians acknowledge mobile threats are real, almost half of the mobile users in Australia do not use passwords to protect their phones (42 percent), a very simple action that can help to protect personal information in the event of loss or theft of the device. Additionally, 33 percent are not aware if they can remotely track their phone using GPS navigation software. These findings somewhat reflect the lack of mobile security knowledge among Australian mobile users.
Australians value contact information the most
One in four connected Australian have had their mobile phone lost or stolen, with 44 percent having losing it. For the victims, nearly three quarters (71 percent) mentioned losing their contact information was the worst part of the experience, and 55 percent felt the expense incurred was also a high concern. To resolve the situation, over half of Australians had paid an average of AU$377.
In fact, 44 percent of Australians would have paid a ransom averaging AU$215 in order to resolve their lost or stolen phone issue, and one in ten would forgo a $10,000 lottery win rather than lose their mobile phone. This further reinforces the high dependency Australians have on their phones and the value they place on their personal information. It is promising to know that 41 percent of connected Australians believe that security software would have helped in their mobile data recovery.
“Australia is a very tech savvy nation that is hugely mobile and connected. Consumers have a good understanding of online threats that can affect them on their computers, but mobile security threats are something they need to start being aware of,” said David Freer, Vice President of Norton for Asia Pacific & Japan. “With greater connectivity to the Internet through mobile devices, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting this platform. With so much valuable and personal information residing on our mobile devices, mobile users need to have the right security measures in place – both a reliable mobile security solution and personal diligence to back up important information. ”
Staying Protected With Norton Mobile Security
Norton Mobile Security for Android devices addresses some of today’s most common mobile issues, including device loss and data protection. Norton Mobile Security has anti-theft, anti-malware, locate and remote wipe features. Norton Mobile Security Lite is available for free on the Google Play Store. For users seeking additional protection, there is the option to upgrade to the full featured Norton Mobile Security for a 2 year subscription for AU$29.95.