Kaspersky Lab stresses the importance of combining the convenience of today with the security of the past

With approximately 2 267 million¹ Internet users globally, it is evident that the Internet is touching lives across the world, and as such, people today are living completely different lifestyles compared to over a decade ago, and considering the continuous evolution of the Internet, these lifestyles require security that matches today’s dynamic demands.

Says Alexander Erofeev, Head of Strategic Marketing and Brand Communication at Kaspersky Lab; “In the 1970’s really important news was shared face-to-face and sealed with a handshake. Additionally, the number one source of information was, of course, the daily newspaper. Breakfast television did not exist, and background information and new developments were conveyed by the evening television news. Today, receiving news is undertaken on a different scale – one where the end-user is actually at a security threat.
If we consider that:
• 25 years later, a large proportion of interpersonal communication had shifted to the computer and Internet. People learned the hard way that these forms of communication must be specifically protected in order to preserve privacy.
• A decade on, today the majority of mobile devices, including laptops, netbooks, tablets and smartphones, provide easy access to the Internet and are used frequently for communications – increasing potential security risks.”

Access to more powerful devices means that the Internet is available everywhere today, and that communication is no longer restricted to desktop surfing sessions. Banking, too, is no longer the exclusive preserve of the home computer; instead, many users check their bank balances while they’re out and about, or use their phones to transfer money while they’re waiting for buses. In fact, according to the Mobility 2011 research project conducted by World Wide Worx², 44% of urban cellphone users now use Internet banking on their phones, an increase from 27% a year before. Additionally, outside the big cities, 27% of users have adopted the application. Shopping, too, is increasingly shifting to Internet-capable devices besides PCs, and people nowadays use chic apps which showcase the latest fashions and advertise bargains on tablets and smartphones.

“Looking at this shift, it is evident that cybercriminals have entered alongside such technological advances over the years, where today, they continue to develop nasty pests which can affect operating systems other than Windows and specifically target social networks. In fact, around 70,000 new pests per day are recorded here at Kaspersky Lab,” Continues Erofeev. “For the average user, securing multiple devices can quickly result in a technological tangle, having to juggle multiple manufacturers, licenses and functions. Even choosing these packages can be a time-consuming process, and it’s one many users are unwilling to undertake. In fact, according to a survey³, three out of four owners of multiple Internet-capable devices would welcome a single universal security package which covers all platforms – smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs – for the protection needed both now and in the future, and today this is possible!”

As technology advances and remains a key facet to everyday lives, the topic of security must remain top of mind for all Internet users, no matter the device being used to access the Internet. All devices need the right security, especially those that sync to each other. Taking the necessary steps to ensuring protection today will go a long way in the overall protection of crucial information and Internet-capable devices and will make the Internet surfing element of many lifestyles a much more convenient and enjoyable one for many more years to come.

¹ Internet World Stats, ‘Internet users in the world: Distribution by world regions – December 2011’
² World Wide Worx, “Mobility 2011 research project”
³ Results based on a survey conducted by YouGov market research institute on behalf of Kaspersky Lab. In total, 2478 YouGov panellists from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK (average 400+ respondents per country; aged 18 and over; respondents needed to own a smartphone or tablet as well as a desktop, laptop or Mac computer) took part in online interviews from December 13th to December 15th 2011. The data has not been weighted and is not representative.