Brits love their mobiles more than cars and computers

 

Mobile users would be lost without their phones - but few are taking steps to protect their beloved gadgets.

Research has shown that mobile phones are the UK’s most treasured technology.

In a survey of 1,000 British mobile users, security specialist Lookout found that 46% would feel more lost without a phone than if they had no computer (22%) or car (18%).

When asked to name the one personal item they would save from a burning house, 23% said their mobile, compared with 18% who would rescue a photo album, 14% a wallet and just 6% opting to save their keys.

Nearly a third of Brits think they could only last a couple of hours without their phone, while 15% said they could “not survive” at all. More than half acknowledged they feel “frustrated” and “anxious” when they don’t have their mobile with them.

The Lookout company blog said: “While mobile users clearly value their phones, very few take the basic safety steps to secure their sensitive data.”

In fact, only a quarter of UK mobile users regularly back up their personal contacts and 60% admitted to having no pin or passcode set on their device. Only 14% said they would have a way of tracking their phone in the event of it being lost or stolen.

“With people across the globe relying on their mobile device to store and share important information, it’s extremely important for people everywhere to secure their phones,” the firm went on to say.

Lookout has launched an app which protects phones from mobile threats, allows users to back up important data and can help find a missing mobile.

This comes as the government’s digital security campaign Get Safe Online is urging Brits to protect themselves from harmful security threats. Research has highlighted a surge in smartphone malware, which enables criminals to make money as users unwittingly download rogue applications.

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