Cell Phone Security: Usage Trends and Awareness of Security Issues

One only has to look around while they are in public places to see the increased usage of cell phones in today's society. People glued to their phones can easily be found in restaurants, waiting rooms, sporting events, movie theaters, or even while people are walking or driving a vehicle. The amount of users who are using apps on their smart phones for not only social networking purposes, but also reading e-mail, shopping online, and checking bank accounts and paying bills has drastically increased within the past three years. The act of taking these portable devices outside of the office or home has added a new element in network security. While the common users computer literacy skills have increased over the past decade, it is unknown if the rapid advancements in smart phone technology has mirrored individuals understanding of network security concerns when using cell phones. This paper servers as the foundation to begin a research study regarding cell phone security behaviors as part of a broader study examining the security practices and cell phone usage of college students. While students understand the importance of network and data security, a broader study is needed to gauge their understanding of securing their mobile devices from not only physical intrusions, but also traditional security issues such as viruses, spam, and spyware.