No web-connected device is safe from the perils of viruses, malware and spam - not even smartphones. Considering the mobile industry's recent boom, it's likely that threat will only grow. Online scam artists go where the action is; the more people using a device, the better the chance someone will unknowingly click a nefarious button or link.
It's a numbers game - and one smartphone owners could lose out of sheer indifference, says market research firm The NPD Group.
Investigating the myriad threats facing iOS and Android users, the NPD found that just 6 percent of iPhone owners installed some form of security on it. Android users fared much better, with 30 percent protecting their devices. Apple customers cared more about the actual device than their online security revealed Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD.
"[iPhone owners'] biggest concerns were much more likely to be fears that their iPhone would be stolen or damaged, than any unwanted or harmful activities," said Baker.
Both Android and iOS users almost equally feared having their activity monitored by an unauthorized third party. The former outnumbered the latter when it came to nearly all other security concerns, including having their credit card information compromised, being hacked and downloading dangerous apps.
Overall, 82 percent of all smartphone users go without security features said the NPD. The high statistic belies a bigger problem.
"While smartphone owners are worried about security threats, they are also thoroughly confused about what to do about them," said Baker. "In fact NPD's report shows that 83 percent of all smartphone owners who have not installed security would be motivated to do so if they were to encounter harmful virus, spam, or other event."
The desire to adapt is there, just buried under an air of invincibility and ignorance. Over 25 percent of smartphone owners are at a loss when it comes to searching out proper smartphone security, noted Baker. Also compounding the problem is an unwillingness to pay up for protection.
"Consumers are both unaware of security for their phones and reluctant to pay for it when they are aware," he said. NPD discovered 75 percent of smartphone owners who actually do own security software downloaded it for free. It's something, but certainly won't protect against the constantly evolving nastier stuff.
Do you have security software on your smartphone? Let us know in the comment section.
