An independent study commissioned by Airwide Solutions, a provider of mobile messaging infrastructure and applications, is said to reveal valuable insight into mobile security risks across the EU. The study which was conducted by comScore M:Metrics on behalf of Airwide Solutions looked at the way mobile subscribers use their phones across five European markets – the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. Although the study uncovers some risky trends, the results are said to represent a major opportunity for mobile operators to play a proactive and strategic role in protecting their subscribers, both through education and also through the security solutions they deploy across their networks.
Of the most significant findings were the dangers surrounding mobile spam. Despite some mobile operators leading the way in deploying anti-spam solutions, the study found that there is still some way to go with the number of people in the EU receiving unwanted text messages growing 21.3 per cent year on year. With some spam messages containing mobile worms and viruses, this statistic is cause for concern, especially in France where the problem is growing by 61.3 per cent year on year.
The study also revealed worrying findings into the use of gambling and adult services by under 18 year olds. In total, Spain recorded the biggest problem with 4 per cent of 13 to 17 year olds accessing adult or gambling services between June 2007 and June 2008. The UK recorded the lowest problem with only 1.3 per cent of minors accessing inappropriate mobile internet sites. However, the study also notes that the figures may mask a more serious situation with many teenagers embarrassed or frightened to admit the truth.
With many people now owning smartphones, mobile phones are also being used to safeguard sensitive company information and personal data such as social security numbers, PIN codes, passwords, company financial data and other proprietary information. Many people are also now using them to carry out financial transactions. According to the study, 5.6 million people in the EU access financial information from their mobile phones – a 23.6 per cent jump from the same time last year. Italy has been the fastest to embrace mobile banking services with a 30.2 per cent increase in use from June 2007 to June 2008. When we consider that mobile phones are stolen in half of all robberies in just the UK alone, the need to protect this sensitive financial data has never been greater.
What the study has made clear is that mobile phones have now become a vital part of the way we live. Mobile phones are now far more omnipresent than personal computers, inherently more portable than other communications devices and carry far more personal and valuable data than ever before. In fact, on average a mobile phone in the EU is worth €476.07 with a mobile subscriber spending €401 a year on their mobile phone bill, €69 acquiring their handset and €6.07 on mobile content (ringtones, wallpaper, games, music etc). Spain registered the highest spending on mobile phone bills (with phone users spending on average €544 per year), Italy recorded the highest spending on the handsets themselves (with an Italian mobile phone user paying on average €148 for a mobile phone) and the UK topped the poll on the amount spent on mobile content per year.
The survey also found that while we are using our phones to take more photos and record more videos, we are at risk of losing these precious personal memories as the majority of people surveyed (50.0 per cent across Europe) do not back up their data.