Mobile phone users in the UAE risk losing precious personal data by failing to use password protection on their devices, a new study warns.
Nearly half of people in the UAE don't lock their phones by using password protection software, Kaspersky Lab, an international cyber security firm, has found.
With many storing sensitive information on their phone thanks to using online banking and purchasing goods via the internet, they risk having personal data fall into the wrong hands if their phone is swiped.
Kapersky Lab has found that 53 per cent of people password-protect their mobile devices and just 14 per cent encrypt their files and folders to avoid unauthorised access.
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So, if these devices are stolen, all of this data – from personal accounts, to photos, messages and even financial details – could become accessible to someone else.
Dmitry Aleshin, VP for Product Marketing, Kaspersky Lab said, “We all love our connected devices because they give us access to vital information, from anywhere at any time. They are valuable items that criminals naturally want to get their hands on, and their job is made easier by the fact that every other pickpocketed phone is not password protected.
“There are a few really simple things that everyone can do to secure their devices and the data they hold. By applying password protection and using a dedicated security solution, including anti-theft protection, you can protect your personal information, photos and online accounts from both loss and malicious usage.”