Consumers surf the mobile Web, send text messages and download content, but they are not too worried about phishing attacks or malicious Web sites, according to a study by Trend Micro.

The survey, which polled more than 1,000 smartphone users 18-years of age and older, shows that mobile users are more worried about losing a phone or contact information and personal data than Web threat infections or phishing schemes. In fact, 44 percent of respondents feel that surfing the Internet on their smartphone (which may not be equipped with security software) is just as safe, if not safer, as surfing on their PC.

"A lost device is of more concern to a consumer than having information stolen via phishing or malware," said Todd Thiemann, Cupertino, CA-based senior director, data protection marketing at Trend Micro. "The malware and phishing threat is still nascent for mobiles.

"Smartphones are being used like PCs to surf the Web and are starting to encounter threats similar to that which they are used to on their PCs," he said. "Over two in 10 smartphone users have encountered a phishing scam with 10 percent of those becoming a victim."

According to the survey, only 23 percent of smartphone users use security software already installed on their smartphone.

One out of five respondents do not think installing a security software program on their phones would be very effective since, in their opinion, there is limited risk in smartphone surfing.

Despite such assurance, most smartphone users are familiar with the types of Web threats that could infect their smartphones and almost half of respondents have been infected by malware.

Phishing is the most familiar threat among smartphone users.

In fact, 80 percent of them know what it is and 20 percent of them have encountered a phishing scam, which is designed to con victims into supplying ID information, account numbers, names and passwords by replying to email messages.

Spam is another smartphone staple.

Almost half of the respondents surveyed have received spam emails on their phones in the past three months.

In fact, 17 percent say that the number of spam emails has increased.

Half of those surveyed have opened email attachments on their smartphone during the last month and nearly 40 percent have clicked on a URL link in an email received on their phone.

"Mobile marketers need to exercise care so that whatever offer they might create is not perceived to be a scam of some sort like phishing," Mr. Thiemann said. "Bad guys follow the money.

"As the smartphone population continues to grow to the point that it provides an attractive target for hackers, and as smartphones become used for mobile commerce, I would expect the security threats to grow as well," he said. "Realize that the smartphone you carry around is really a small computer, and one should apply the same caution to the mobile device as one does to a laptop or desktop PC.

"Mobile devices are phenomenal productivity enhancers with tons of cool applications emerging and mobile network speeds increasing. But human beings are human beings, and we need to remember the story of Willie Sutton and why he robbed banks -- because that is where the money is. As mobiles are used for transactions, security needs to be considered."