Australian phones at risk of malware

Research by Intel Security has demonstrated that two-thirds of Australians do not have any security software installed to protect their mobile phones, despite viewing them as ‘priceless’.

There were 1000 adults surveyed, with 60% reporting they would never give up their phone to a stranger due to the value of its contents. Only 17% said they would hand over their phone to a stranger if offered over $1000, with men were more likely to hand their phone to a stranger than women.

The study also found that over a third of Australians would rather lose their wallet than their phone, with 55% of young people aged 18–24 expressing this preference.

Despite this, the latest analysis of mobile malware from Intel Security’s McAfee Labs found that mobile malware has grown 151% over the past year. At least 14 million Australians are at potential risk of attacks because they are not protecting their devices. Every hour, Australian mobiles receive between 10–100 malware threats.

To combat malware threats, Intel Security advises phone owners to develop a strong, unique password for every device. It should be more than 4 characters long with a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, with the use of multifactor authentication where available. Users should also back up their mobile device regularly to avoid data loss, only download apps from trusted stores, double check the authenticity of ‘free Wi-Fi’ networks in public spaces and choose security software that protects multiple devices. Regular updates are essential for the strongest protection.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Sdecoret