Once used simply as a means to communicate, mobile phones are now the ultimate personal computing devices that often carry our most sensitive information, like banking credentials, photos and contacts.
Alarmingly, Lookout and Sprint today announced the results of a new national Harris survey revealing some unsettling information about smartphone consumers’ mobile behaviors, habits and concerns about privacy.
Despite being deeply attached to their mobile phones, Americans surveyed exhibit risky behavior when using their mobile phone.
In fact, 26 percent of people are not aware of the risks of clicking on unfamiliar links while browsing on mobile, the survey shows. Additionally, we’ve learned that 18 percent store password information on their phones.
It goes without saying that that if you fall into either or both categories above, it may be worth your while to exercise more caution with your mobile activities.
With smartphones being critical to everyday life, Sprint and Lookout recommended a few helpful tips to stay safe and protect your sensitive information.
- Set a pin or passcode. It’s the first line of defense to keep private information private if a phone is lost or stolen.
- Don’t lose it. Tuck away a smartphone in a zipped pocket or bag when walking in public places.
- Practice safe surfing. Take extra care when browsing websites or clicking on links from a mobile device – the small screen size makes it especially tricky to determine a safe link from a fraudulent one.
- Be cautious when downloading apps. To minimize the risk of picking up a malicious application, only download from official apps stores, read app reviews and check the developer reputation before installation.
- Keep it safe. Download an app like Lookout to help locate a lost phone, or lock & wipe the data if it cannot be recovered.
