Norton, the AntiVirus arm of internet security giants, Symantec has just released a new report based on the study it conducted on mobile users in the Middle East and Africa, revealing that almost two out of five online adults in the regions suffer mobile cybercrime.

The report said that consumers in these regions rely on their mobiles to surf the net and carry out activities ranging from downloading apps, shopping, to making payments.

Norton however claimed to find out that nearly nine out of ten online adults or approximately 87 percent adults in the Middle East and Africa are mobile device users, of which, 78 percent are using them to access the Internet.

Looking at it from all ramifications, the report is stating the obvious. In this constantly connected world, people are relying more and more on their mobile phones and tablets to navigate, share, socialize and shop.

But the worrying aspect of the report is the realisation, according to Norton’s Kara Rawden, that this lot go on without either caution or precaution, thereby exposing many to danger.  Rawden noted that “what many consumers may not realise is exactly how much of their personal and private information is up for grabs should these devices be compromised, lost or stolen”.

Considering the sensitive nature of data that is accessible from personal mobile devices, Norton advised that consumers need to take some basic, yet easy, precautions to protect their data it from falling into the wrong hands.

Download apps from secure sources only

As people expand their online lives through mobile devices, many are not taking steps to secure their device and the content it contains.

Nearly one in four mobile device users in the Middle East and Africa admit to not always downloading applications from trustworthy sources while close to three in ten indicated that they do not use secure payment methods when making purchases from their mobile device, leaving their sensitive information such as credit card details vulnerable. This is dangerous and to forestall the implications mobile users must ensure that applications are downloaded from sources they can trust.

Password your personal data

More than one-quarter of adult respondents, admitted to not using a password to help protect their personal data. In the event of theft or loss, a treasure trove of personal information stored on the device can potentially be accessed including personal emails, a possible gateway to other sensitive information such as work correspondence and documents, passwords for other online accounts and bank statements.

It is always advisable to take precautionary measures, including always pass- wording your data.