Is your smartphone vulnerable to a cyberattack?

A survey by the insurance provider, Ecclesiastical, found that complacency over smartphone security could see users’ devices becoming targets for criminals. The survey¹ identified that nearly three in five people (58%) believe smartphones are vulnerable to cyberattack, and just under half (48%) think that smartphones can be hacked – but most smartphone users are still not taking measures to protect their devices. This means that having appropriate cyber insurance and providing a safety net should the worst happen.
 
Survey findings
Smartphone users surveyed revealed:

• Only two in five surveyed (43%) have an antivirus app installed
• More than half (52%) share their current location on social media
• Half (50%) admit to sharing photos on social media during a holiday
• More than half (54%) accept friend requests on social media because they recognise the photo
• Only half (51%) always use a password or biometric authentication to unlock their phone
• One in ten (16%) never used a password for biometric authentication
• Four in five (78%) admitted to using the same password for multiple websites or apps
• Seven in ten (68%) admit to using easy-to-remember passwords such as date of birth.

The advice
It’s important to have a strong password and preferably biometric authentication in place. You should think twice when logging onto public wi-fi with your smartphone or device. Not every wi-fi network is genuine, and hackers can create fake wi-fi networks.
 
If you use public wi-fi, avoid accessing sensitive data, making bank transfers or reading confidential documents until you log on to a secure network, such as your wi-fi at home. It’s interesting to see that despite not trusting public wi-fi, people are still using it: the survey revealed that although more than half (55%) believe it’s unsafe to log on to free public wi-fi via smartphone, seven in ten (69%) still do it.
 
If you sell your smartphone, it’s a good idea to reset it multiple times to remove all data, which a purchaser could use to steal your identity. If you buy a second-hand device from platforms such as Ebay or Facebook Marketplace, you don’t know who you’re buying from and whether the device is secure.

Talk to NLIG

By having cyber insurance in place, you are protecting yourself against becoming a victim of online fraud and cyberattacks such as malware and identity theft. With so many people now using their smartphones alongside public wi-fi for online transactions, online banking and paying for purchases, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks and ensure you are protected.
 
At NLIG, we can advise on the right level of cyber security to have in place. Depending on the level of risk you face, ensuring you benefit from a policy tailored to your exact requirements and giving you the peace of mind you have a safety net in place.

To find out more, either call us on 01992 703 300 or email insurance@nlig.co.uk

Our business is your protection.

1 The survey was commissioned by Ecclesiastical and conducted by OnePoll, with 2,000 UK adults who are smartphone owners between 4 October and 15 October 2019.