By: MSN
April 28, 2019
We’ve all had the “smartphone conversation.” The one about our unhealthy obsession and inability to put phones down. This fear is legitimized by research, showing that we spend approximately one third of our waking hours on our mobile devices – just over five hours per day. However, while we all might be concerned about this phenomenon, there is one group that could not be happier: cybercriminals.
Society’s smartphone addiction is a gold mine for cybercriminals, as consumers are significantly less security savvy on their smartphones than on traditional computers. So, although experts often cite the concerning mental and physical health implications of this trend, there is another important reason to detach from our smartphones: helping to reduce crime.
While we are generally aware of the potential cyber risks associated with personal computers, and install antivirus software and avoid suspicious links, we do not exercise the same caution when it comes to smartphones. This is particularly problematic when we consider just how much information the average phone contains and how it is used to do the same activities that we use our computers for.