US-based market research from The NPD Group says smartphone owners are concerned about mobile security threats to their phones but very few have taken any action.
Almost 40% of all smartphone users are concerned about activity monitoring, hacking, credit card security and viruses, while more than a third worry about harmful apps, malicious emails and location tracking. Yet 82% of smartphone users have no security products installed on their phones.
The percentage of users taking action varies dramatically depending on the OS they’re using, according to the report. 30% of Android smartphone owners have installed mobile security products, yet just 6% of iPhone owners have taken similar action.
Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for NPD, said “Even though iPhone users are less concerned than Android users about device security, they are still clearly worried. Their biggest concerns were much more likely to be fears that their iPhone would be stolen or damaged, than any unwanted or harmful activities.”
There was also a lack of awareness about pricing. Around a quarter of smartphone owners without a security app felt that security products were too expensive, yet 75% of owners with security products had paid nothing for their software.