Unsurprisingly, adults don’t read terms and conditions of mobile apps

Today, we spend more time on our smartphones and tablets than ever before, downloading games on the go, banking online or conducting the weekly grocery shop. However, despite the rise in the use of mobile apps, of the 2,000 UK adults surveyed by Intel Security, 63% are unaware of the personal information they could be giving away by not reading terms and conditions on the apps they download.

Those aged 18-24 years old were less likely to read the T&C’s with 65% of this age category choosing not to do so. 41% of respondents cited a lack of time being as the main reason for not reading through the terms and conditions and other reasons included that they simply do not care about the terms and conditions because they want to the app regardless (20%), and that they trust app stores (20%).

Whilst app stores do make efforts to ensure malware-laden apps are kept off their shelves, it still occurs. McAfee Labs found that over 80% of Android apps track you and collect your personal information. Apps are also the main way that malware can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet.

Evidently, the same level of diligence we apply to protecting our PCs and laptops does not translate into our mobile lives. The study also reveals that over half of UK mobile users (57%) do not believe it is their responsibility to protect their own devices. This comes despite recent reports revealing that 1 in 6 Brits have fallen victim to cyberattacks and that 60% of mobiles are at risk due to a lack of malware protection1.

Strong, safe cyber hygiene goes a long way in the protection against cyberattacks and data breaches, which is why Intel Security has provided a digital health check list for mobile users to follow:

Review what your apps are up to. Use security software to run a scan of app permissions to help you identify suspicious app requests such as location, contact or account data. Think twice before saying yes to app permissions in the future.

Put a pin or password on all your mobile devices. This is simple but goes a long way to make help keeping prying eyes away from your information.

Back up your data…today! More than 1 in 10 people have NEVER backed up their device2. With all the personal information – from photos and videos to contact information – stored on devices, get in the habit of running a monthly data back up.

Disable automatically log-in on all apps and websites to make sure that a stranger can’t log into your accounts if your phone falls into the wrong hands. Use a password manager if you have a number of websites and apps you use daily.

Check you have mobile device security and that it’s up to date. Protect your phone and the information it holds by installing mobile security that includes anti-theft measures and protection against viruses and malware

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