Mobile device security : young people's awareness and perceptions

Abstract

The use of mobile devices is becoming more popular by the day. With all the different features that the new mobile devices possess, they are starting to replace personal computers both for personal and business use. There are also more attacks concerning security on mobile devices because of their increased usage and the security measures that are not as effective and well-known as those on personal computers. The problem is that some users do not realize that their smartphones need the same level of security and protection as computers. The perceived perception is that the young adult population does not always have much regard for safety and they may have a low level of technically advanced knowledge when using their mobile devices. Security and privacy attacks, such as phishing and theft of corporate data may have a major impact on mobile users and organizations. Mobile users are largely responsible for protecting themselves and other users from a security viewpoint. The main focus of the study is the awareness and perceptions of young adults concerning the security of their mobile devices. Aspects of mobile device security and the awareness thereof are discussed and the current status of young users’ awareness and perceptions regarding mobile device security are presented resulting from a survey conducted at a South African university. A questionnaire was developed to determine the awareness and perceptions of young people regarding mobile device security. The study discusses the results of this survey and findings are presented on specific issues of awareness and perceptions. Findings indicate that young people have diverse behaviour levels concerning mobile device security. The majority of respondents have the attitude that mobile security is necessary and their knowledge regarding security terms is good. However, there is still room for improvement. A mobile application was developed to address the specific issues that emerged from the survey. The application was evaluated by users by completing a questionnaire to determine the usefulness of the application. The results indicated that the application is user-friendly, functions well and is relevant to the topic for which it was developed. The study concludes with the main findings, recommendations or guidelines to help improve the awareness of the young people regarding mobile device security based on this study; thereby contributing towards a more security-conscious young adult population.