Consumers uneasy about mobile security

data on smartphones and tablet computers, a study by business application maker, Oracle shows, CRN reports.

In a survey of more than 3 000 mobile phone subscribers worldwide, 68% were either unsure or convinced that data stored or transmitted by their mobile phones was not secure, Oracle said in the study released on Monday. As a result, only 21% of respondents said they would be “very comfortable” making a purchase with their mobile phones instead of a with credit card or cash.

Oracle revealed that 55% of respondents had downloaded a free app, while 25% had paid to download and install an app on their mobile devices. The survey also highlighted the high demand for tablet devices, ITProPortal says.

According to the survey, 57% of respondents already owned a tablet device, or were planning on purchasing one within the next 12 months.

According to PCWorld, what could be contributing to consumers' anxiety about mobile phone security are the almost weekly reports of malware attacks on Android smartphones that have been appearing for months now.

Smartphones have significantly penetrated mobile markets around the world, with 70% of the respondents saying they use that type of mobile device, according to the study.