TECHNOLOGY: Is the personal data on your smartphone protected?

When it comes to being streetwise with their smartphone nearly half of Cypriots never refused or restricted access to the personal data on their device, EU data shows.

Last year, 75% of people aged 16-74 in the EU used a smartphone for private purposes. Yet, 28% responded that when using or installing an app on the smartphone they never restricted or refused its access to personal data.

The highest self-data protection was found in France and the lowest in the Czech Republic.

Two thirds of smartphone users in Czechia (67%) never restricted or refused app access to their personal data. They were followed by Bulgaria (49%), Cyprus and the United Kingdom (both 43%).

In contrast, only 10% of smartphone users in France never restricted or refused app access, followed by Germany (16%), the Netherlands and Luxembourg (both 17%).

Some 7% of smartphone users in the EU did not know it is possible to restrict or refuse access to their personal data when using or installing an app on the smartphone. This figure was 8% in Cyprus.

Less than one half (43%) of smartphones users reported that they had a security system that had been automatically installed or provided with the operating system of their smartphones.

A further 15% had subscribed to a security system or used one that had been installed by somebody else.