Tech lovers can’t bear to be apart from their gadgets, a new Sophos survey has revealed, with the average user carrying 2,9 devices.
Sophos’ Naked Security site conducted a survey of more than 2 200 users worldwide, asking readers how many devices they carry, and which operating systems they use.
Of the 2 26 respondents (the majority of whom represent Australia, Canada, Germany, the US and UK), residents of Germany on average carry the most devices (3,1). They are also most likely to carry laptops, whereas Americans, Australians, the British, and Canadians are most likely to carry smartphones.
The average number of devices per person per country: Germany – 3,1; US – 3; Canada – 2,7; UK – 2,7; and Australia – 2,6.
The smartphone is by far the most popular device carried by survey respondents, while the e-reader is the least popular: smartphone – 85%; laptop – 68%; tablet – 48%; MP3 player – 40%; and e-reader – 29%.
Google’s Android narrowly beats Apple’s iOS as the most popular smartphone OS carried: Android – 40,9%; iPhone – 40,5%; Blackberry – 8,9%; and Windows – 3,4%.
When it comes to laptops, Windows is the most popular laptop OS (49%), more than twice that of Mac (22%) and six times more than Linux (8%).
Regardless of the number of devices users own, protecting all of them is paramount.
Sophos recommends the following tips to ensure device security:
* Lock it by enabling strong passcodes or passwords. One of the biggest barriers between a thief and a device’s data can be a password.
* Keep all software updated, including security software. Install and regularly update security software. There are many out-of-date apps that can pose a security threat. Installing security applications can provide additional protection by encrypting sensitive data, help with retrieving lost or stolen devices and stop malware for little to no cost.
* Only carry necessary devices. This seems like a simple concept, but with the myriad devices offering specific features and functionality, it’s sometimes difficult to limit ourselves to just one or two.
“People are buying and using more and more devices, and are increasingly bringing them into the workplace. Inevitably, that trend increases the need to keep those devices safe and secure from threats,” says Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.
“With the reality of BYOD (bring your own device), smart organisations are implementing security policies to ensure that both corporate and personal devices are protected and secured – keeping sensitive information out of the hands of hackers.”
Sophos’ Naked Security site conducted a survey of more than 2 200 users worldwide, asking readers how many devices they carry, and which operating systems they use.
Of the 2 26 respondents (the majority of whom represent Australia, Canada, Germany, the US and UK), residents of Germany on average carry the most devices (3,1). They are also most likely to carry laptops, whereas Americans, Australians, the British, and Canadians are most likely to carry smartphones.
The average number of devices per person per country: Germany – 3,1; US – 3; Canada – 2,7; UK – 2,7; and Australia – 2,6.
The smartphone is by far the most popular device carried by survey respondents, while the e-reader is the least popular: smartphone – 85%; laptop – 68%; tablet – 48%; MP3 player – 40%; and e-reader – 29%.
Google’s Android narrowly beats Apple’s iOS as the most popular smartphone OS carried: Android – 40,9%; iPhone – 40,5%; Blackberry – 8,9%; and Windows – 3,4%.
When it comes to laptops, Windows is the most popular laptop OS (49%), more than twice that of Mac (22%) and six times more than Linux (8%).
Regardless of the number of devices users own, protecting all of them is paramount.
Sophos recommends the following tips to ensure device security:
* Lock it by enabling strong passcodes or passwords. One of the biggest barriers between a thief and a device’s data can be a password.
* Keep all software updated, including security software. Install and regularly update security software. There are many out-of-date apps that can pose a security threat. Installing security applications can provide additional protection by encrypting sensitive data, help with retrieving lost or stolen devices and stop malware for little to no cost.
* Only carry necessary devices. This seems like a simple concept, but with the myriad devices offering specific features and functionality, it’s sometimes difficult to limit ourselves to just one or two.
“People are buying and using more and more devices, and are increasingly bringing them into the workplace. Inevitably, that trend increases the need to keep those devices safe and secure from threats,” says Brett Myroff, CEO of Sophos distributor, NetXactics.
“With the reality of BYOD (bring your own device), smart organisations are implementing security policies to ensure that both corporate and personal devices are protected and secured – keeping sensitive information out of the hands of hackers.”