Indians have highest smartphone security concerns

Indians have shown the highest level of user concern for mobile security issues at 90 percent among the 16 countries, included in a global consumer survey.Brazil and Russia (88 per cent each), Germany (86 per cent) and China and Italy (both at 85 per cent) were the other countries with high level of security concerns while respondents in Hong Kong (70 per cent), Belgium/Netherlands (74 per cent) and the U.S. and Japan (77 per cent each) were the least concerned by comparison.The global consumer study by Juniper Networks found that four out of five people cite “level of security” as a top or high priority when buying or using smartphones and tablet computers and more than half are anxious about losing their mobile devices, protecting their identities and protecting their families with parental controls.At the same time, nearly three out of four people surveyed use their mobile devices to share or access sensitive personal or business information.The research, commissioned by Juniper and conducted by KRC Research and Synovate with more than 6,000 smartphone and tablet users across 16 countries, reveals a blurring of the lines between the personal and business use of mobile devices and highlights the need for more stringent and better integrated mobile security.Almost 44 per cent of respondents use their devices for both personal and business purposes, while fewer than 4 percent use them strictly for business.If business IT leaders think they can keep the devices at bay, 81 per cent admit using their devices to access their employer’s network without their employer’s knowledge or permission -- and 58 per cent do so every single day.Business and personal use varied by region and country, with personal use dominating in Canada (72 per cent), Japan (70 per cent), France (67 per cent) and most other countries.China, Russia and Brazil were the leading exceptions with 75 per cent, 65 per cent and 61 per cent combined business and personal use respectively -- and Belgium/Netherlands reported the highest business-only use (12 per cent).

“Smartphones and tablets have become the new onramp for information, applications and commerce -- yet they are quickly becoming an onramp for security threats as well,” said Mark Bauhaus, executive vice president and general manager, Service Layer Technologies Business Group at Juniper Networks.

“Fortunately users are growing very aware of the security, identity and privacy issues involved.Now the industry needs to step up and make security an integrated part of the mobile experience, not an optional afterthought,” he added