The survey found that respondents expected to use their smartphones for both work and personal activities like emailing, calling, and social networking during the holidays. Most anticipated work activities would involve sensitive data. While security concerns like loss/theft and malware were top concerns, many users are not careful about app permissions or using security software. The report recommends encrypting data, using security software, and focusing on information protection over devices.

1. Symantec 2010 Mobile Security
Holiday Habits Survey
Results

2. Methodology
• Survey conducted via Zoomerang
• 117 respondents
• Respondents recruited through social media channels
• Only respondents using a smartphone in connection with
employment counted
2

3. Key Findings
• Work-related and personal emailing; personal calls and texting;
surfing the Web; and social networking are the most expected
activities during the holidays
• Surprisingly, online shopping ranked near the bottom of the list
• The majority said work-related activities done on smartphones
while out of the office will involve sensitive or confidential data
• More than twice as many respondents very likely to open a text
message from an unknown sender as opposed to those very
likely to open an unsolicited email
3

4. Key Findings
• The majority pay little attention to license agreements and the
permissions they are giving when downloading apps
• Number one smartphone security concern is loss or theft;
mobile malware ranks number two
• The majority are aware smartphone security product exist, but
do not use them
4

5. Which of the following do you expect to use your smartphone
for while taking time off from work in connection to the
upcoming holiday season?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Work-related email 81%
Personal email 77%
Work-related phone calls 64%
Personal phone calls 81%
Work-related SMS texting 48%
Personal SMS texting 74%
Work-related calendaring 57%
Personal calendaring 45%
Surfing the Web 68%
Online shopping 20%
Downloading apps 44%
Social networking (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) 68%
Accessing a work-related network (i.e. an intranet or network drive) 10%
Using work-related applications 13%
Viewing/modifying work-related documents (i.e. word processing… 17%
I do not plan on using my smartphone during my time off from work 5%

6. During your time off work around the upcoming holiday season,
what percentage of time spent on your smartphone do you
anticipate you will be doing work-related activities versus
personal activities?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
100% work-related, 0% personal 8%
75% work-related, 25% personal 17%
50% work-related, 50% personal 16%
25% work-related, 75% personal 50%
0% work-related, 100% personal 10%

7. Do you anticipate any of the work-related activities you expect
to do on your smartphone while taking time off from work for
the upcoming holiday season will involve sensitive or
confidential information?
No
38%
Yes
62%

8. How likely are you to open an SMS text message on your
smartphone from an unknown sender?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Very likely 29%
Somewhat likely 19%
Somewhat unlikely 20%
Very unlikely 32%
How likely are you to open an email message on your
smartphone from an unknown sender?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Very likely 14%
Somewhat likely 25%
Somewhat unlikely 25%
Very unlikely 37%

9. When downloading apps for your smartphone, how closely do
you pay attention to license agreements, including permissions
requested by the app to access data and services - such as the
GPS - on your phone?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
I pay very close attention and read the license agreements carefully
to determine what data and services I am giving the app permission 18%
to access on my smartphone.
I scan the license agreements, but don't pay very close attention to
them or what data and services I am giving the app permission to 33%
access on my smartphone.
I accept the license agreements without reading them, assuming it
is safe to give the app permission to access any data and services 35%
on my smartphone.
I do not download apps on my smartphone. 14%

10. Most smartphones have a "lock" feature that prevents the
accidental pressing of keys and also unauthorized access. Do
you use the "lock" feature of your smartphone?
No
18%
Yes
82%
Have you configured your smartphone to require a password to
"unlock" the device?
No
19%
Yes
81%

11. Please rank the following smartphone security issues based on
your level of concern for each, with one being the most
concerning and three the least concerning.
80%
70% 68%
60% 58%
56%
50%
1
40%
2
32%
3
30%
23%
21% 21%
20%
12%
9%
10%
0%
Loss/Theft Malware SMS text phishing ("SMShing")

12. If your smartphone were lost or stolen, on which of the
following would you place greater value?
The device itself
(hardware)
The data stored 44%
on the device
56%

13. Did you know that there are mobile security software solutions
available from vendors such as Symantec to protect your
smartphone?
No
37%
Yes
63%
Do you use third-party mobile security software on your
smartphone?
Yes
23%
No
77%

14. Which of the following characterizes your overall opinion of
smartphone security software?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
There is no need for smartphone security software, and
3%
there will not be a need in the foreseeable future.
Smartphone security software is unnecessary at this point
19%
in time, but perhaps it will be more needed in the future.
Smartphone security software is beneficial, but not
50%
essential.
Smartphone security software is essential. 28%

15. Symantec Recommendations
15

16. Recommendations
• Encrypt the data on mobile devices
• If at all possible, use smartphone security software on all mobile
endpoints
• Make sure all software is up to date
• Use caution when enabling Bluetooth connections
• Users should be aware of their surroundings when accessing
sensitive information
• Each mobile device should be password protected
• Focus on protecting information as opposed to focusing on the
devices

17. Thank you!
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