83% UAE users save crucial data on phones

The study says these devices are carried and used everywhere - 64 per cent of users in the UAE use their devices at work, 52 per cent in cars, 46 per cent on public transport, 66 per cent while in bed and 33 per cent in the bathroom.

Dubai: Smartphones today are man's best friend. These devices even accompany a majority of users to the bathroom.
A latest study by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International shows that the relationship between users and their digital devices is often more intimate than between best friends, with 33 per cent of users in the UAE taking them to the bathroom. More than a quarter of users share secrets with their device that they don't want anyone else to know. However, this trust could leave users at risk as these devices can be hacked and private information exposed to the world.
The study finds that the overwhelming majority of people in the UAE, around 83 per cent, store important, confidential and sometimes irreplaceable information on their smartphones, including passwords, messages, photos, contacts, files and more. Around 28 per cent in the UAE say their devices carry sensitive information they wouldn't want anyone else to see.
The study says these devices are carried and used everywhere - 64 per cent of users in the UAE use their devices at work, 52 per cent in cars, 46 per cent on public transport, 66 per cent while in bed and 33 per cent in the bathroom.
Outside home, these devices face potential risks that include damage, loss and theft, but also hacking by cyber-criminals with the intention of stealing data or even spying on the user.
Devices that are used on open Wi-Fi networks are particularly vulnerable to attack. However, few people take action to reduce their risk.
The study found that only 18 per cent of users in the UAE adapt their online activities when on an insecure public Wi-Fi network, despite the fact that hackers can easily intercept data and passwords. However, 62 per cent take advantage of security features that come with the device, such as remote blocks or find-my-device capability.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com