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Users don’t protect their smartphones against threats

Hi, everyone! I’ve just started as editor-in-chief for Latin America region and this is my first post on Unplugged. I’m Brazilian and I live in São Paulo, a crazy big city with a population of 11 million people (the state, which has the same name, counts 41.4 million). I’m very excited to be part of RCR Wireless News team and cover Latam for http://americas.www.rcrwireless.com/.

I just received a survey that points out that nine out of 10 smartphone users think it is important to have a security solution, but 80% don’t have one. The survey was conducted by the security company Eset, and shows that Latin America users indicate the information theft is the main concern about attacks on their mobile devices, with 36.8% of total responses.

Mobile devices can store large amounts of information and able people to always stay connected, accessing email, social networks and web browsing. However, nobody cares about securing the device. Do you protect you device with access password? Do you use encryption? Do you have a backup of all information you have in your smartphone? I believe often the answer is “no.”

Hackers can access the private life of users by capturing their personal data, as well as work-sensitive information.

The survey also found that users rate malware and the physical theft of their devices In second place as a top concern. Only 8% of responses rated receiving spam via text messages as a top threat.

Considering protecting your smartphone in order to safeguard your information, especially if you’re a heavy or corporate user.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Tracy Ford
Tracy Ford
Former Associate Publisher and Executive Editor, RCR Wireless NewsCurrently HetNet Forum Director703-535-7459 tracy.ford@pcia.com Ford has spent more than two decades covering the rapidly changing wireless industry, tracking its changes as it grew from a voice-centric marketplace to the dynamic data-intensive industry it is today. She started her technology journalism career at RCR Wireless News, and has held a number of titles there, including associate publisher and executive editor. She is a winner of the American Society of Business Publication Editors Silver Award, for both trade show and government coverage. A graduate of the Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Ford holds a B.S. degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis on public relations.