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Security threats increase, smartphones not protected: study

Despite a steady increase in threats from device loss and threats, malware and viruses, only 4 percent of smartphones and tablets are protected with security software, according to a study from Juniper Research.

?Operators and service providers need to recognize the potential value that can be achieved by integrating security features into their products,? said Nitin Bhas, research analyst at Juniper Research, Hampshire, England.

?Bundling security along with other managed services will not only provide incremental revenue, but will also help with better customer satisfaction,? he said.

Secure mobile
The report found that mobile security software is rapidly becoming as essential on mobile as it is in desktop security.

?Just as consumers currently purchase and install Internet security products for their PCs and laptops, they will begin to include mobile devices to the list of electronic devices that they must secure,? Mr. Bhas said.

?We believe that the market for mobile security products will go main stream by late 2013 crossing the $1 billion mark as the vulnerability of data centric mobile devices becomes more widely appreciated both in the business and consumer sectors,? he said.

?High profile security alerts are likely to heighten the public?s awareness of this growing issue.?

Supply vs. demand
The study puts mobile marketing in an interesting perspective, especially seeing how big brands have made a mobile push.

From carriers, advertisers and retail brands, the industry is integrating mobile and making it appeal to everyday life.

However, the data suggests that while consumers are ready for the trend, the software to take everyday life to an only-mobile platform isn?t realistic.

As seen in another recent study about how retailers are unable to meet the demands of consumers (see story), there is clearly a gap between the technology the mobile industry needs and how it is currently being used.

?The principal market opportunity in the consumer smartphone space comes directly from user demand,? Mr. Bhas said.

?The leap in functionality in the smartphone handset has created an important demand surge for those wishing to have access to devices beyond the capabilities of the standard handset,? he said.

?Consumers need to realise that this wealth of data-centric services comes at a price.?