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Cape Town - South Africans take their 'ubuntu' ideology too far when it comes to their smartphones with nearly half taking absolutely no precautions with personal data.
A survey jointly carried out by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International found that 41% take no precautions with their personal data when letting others use their devices with friends, family or colleagues.
"They see no risks associated with sharing these devices even though it can significantly increase the chances of data stored on the device being lost or stolen. In fact, the more people use a device, the greater the probability of one of them making a mistake and falling for a cyber criminal trick" Kaspersky said.
This attitude may seem like openness and many may argue that they have nothing to hide, but an inexperienced user may easily click on a malware link that gives cyber criminals an open door to stealing important data like financial information.
"Leaving a shared device unprotected is extremely dangerous - nobody can be entirely sure that other users are sufficiently aware of cyber threats: An inexperienced user may fall for a scammer's bait or download a malicious executable file," Kaspersky said, adding that 32% share devices with relatives and 8% share with children.
Rogue apps
Cyber criminals are well known for crafting content that exploits social engineering. In this environment, users who leave their devices without even basic protection like a pass code may be inadvertently be exposing themselves to risk.
"Sharing a computer or smartphone increases the risk of malware infection, data loss or account theft, so it is important to take precautions: Always keep backup copies of important files; delete information that should not fall into the wrong hands, especially by disabling from autofill; try to control user access rights on the device and - most importantly - use programs that provide protection against cyber threats," advised Peter Aleshkin, Consumer Marketing Group manager in Emerging Markets for Kaspersky Lab.
An unlock pattern for your mobile phone may be easier to remember than a pass code. (Duncan Alfreds, Fin24)
In addition, you should also check your smartphone regularly for potentially rogue apps. To do this, install F-Secure App Permissions or similar free program.
The software will scan your installed applications and search for apps that have permissions that may cost money (send SMS messages) or have access to your personal information.
You can also use the software to filter permissions. For example, you can check which apps can write to your storage, send text messages and make calls by bypassing the built-in dialler.
Modern smartphones also provide tools to easily secure your smartphone.
Go to Settings on most devices, find Security and there should be options to lock your device with a simple pass code, a pattern or even a complex password.
On Android, you should also ensure that the operating system automatically verifies potentially harmful applications before installation and unsure that only apps from the official Google Play Store can be installed.
Watch Professor David Taylor explain how you should take personal responsibility for your personal data:
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