How smartphone users are making silly and unsafe choices

Millennials may think they’re privacy experts, but recent research from mobile security firm Lookout found that few practice what they preach. In a recent Lookout survey of more than 1,000 smartphone owners, 52 percent of those who claimed to be security savvy didn’t read privacy policies before downloading mobile apps, 34 percent didn’t set a PIN or passcode on their phones, and 35 percent downloaded mobile apps from unofficial marketplaces. The survey also found that those who claim to be privacy experts are most likely to partake in risky mobile behavior, like connecting their smartphones to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, visiting unfamiliar sites on their phones, and plugging their phones into public charging stations. While these actions may seem benign, they can leave people’s mobile devices -- and the sensitive personal and work data stored on those devices -- vulnerable to thieves, according mobile safety advocate at Lookout, Cherie Gatson.