Using mobile phones to shop online in North Africa and the Middle East is a continuously growing trend. However, the lack of precautions and security measures when using these services have also led to an increase in cybercrime, reports the Arabian Gazette. A recent study released from Norton from Symantec reported that two in five Middle Eastern and African mobile users have been victims to mobile cybercrime.
Eighty-seven percent of adults in the Middle East and Africa have mobile phones, and of this percentage, 78 percent of them used their phones to access the Internet. As consumers in these areas are increasingly using their phones for consumer activities, it seems as though there are few following safe measures that prevent cybercrime mishaps. The Norton Cybercrime Report 2012 explained that cybercrime occurred when mobile users provided personal details to unsolicited text messages or when the mobile phone was hacked, sending SMS messages without the user’s consent which the user later had to pay for.
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Tamim Taufiq, head of consumer sales MENA for Symantec, stated in the Arabian Gazette, “People are relying more and more on their mobile phones and tablets to navigate, share and socialize and shop in today’s constantly connected world. What many consumers may not realize 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, consumers need to take some basic, yet easy, precautions to protect it from falling into the wrong hands.”
The Norton report revealed that almost one-in-four users in these regions were downloading applications from untrustworthy sources. Twenty-nine percent admitted that they do not practice security payment techniques when purchasing online through their mobile device. Many users engage in online consumption that leaves their card information vulnerable. Moreover, 28 percent reported that they do not use a password to protect personal information.
As mobile users in the Middle East and Africa continue to build reliance on their mobile phones for daily consumption and payments, it is necessary to heed the indications of this report on rising cybercrime. To read more statistics, view the Arabian Gazette story here.
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