Norton report on Smartphone users

According to a study by Norton, about one in two Indians have allowed app developers to access their contact directories and other data stored on their smartphones in exchange for free applications, exposing themselves to privacy risks in the process. The survey covered 1,005 Indian smartphone and tablet users aged 16 and above.

Highlights of the study:

• The survey notes that one in three consumers in India accepts that many apps they use are likely to collect data about them, one in five would download any app that looked cool, regardless of its origin or reputation.
• Close to 50% of Indians with smartphones and tablets have over 20 apps installed on them, according to the survey.
• 36% would either always grant permissions or simply don’t know enough about the kind of permissions they may have granted and only eight per cent reject requests bearing in mind the risks involved.
• 50% users grant permission to send promotional texts/emails, while close to 40% grant permission to access their camera, bookmarks and browser history.
• About 68% of the users worry about the security threats of online shopping and 42% said they have in fact experienced a security problem, threat or nuisance as a result of using their devices for online shopping. However, only 26% of online shoppers believe that threats are increasing.
• Security issues causing the most concern for Indian mobile users were virus/malware attacks (34%), threats involving fraudulent access or misuse of credit card or bank account details (21%) and leaking of personal information (19%).

Why be concerned about this?

Mobiles are digital warehouses storing our most personal moments and information, such as photos and videos, conversations with friends and family, health and fitness information, financial data and more. Yet, most consumers unknowingly put personal information which resides on their mobile phones at risk and compromise their privacy.