ABINGDON, England, September 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

UK adults would rather save their laptop, tablet computer or smartphone from a house fire over items including antiques, memorable, special letters or jewellery. Yet they fail to protect their prized devices from cybercriminals

As we become increasingly reliant on technology in our day to day lives, technology has also entered into the nations hearts with 1 in 5 (21 per cent) UK adults saying that they would save their laptop, tablet or smartphone in the unlikely event that their house was on fire, according to a new online survey by YouGov Plc for Kaspersky Lab. Despite admitting this, a large percentage of the population still don't protect these items from a far more likely cybercriminal attack.

When asked to imagine that their house was on fire and they could save one object from a list (assuming that all people and pets were safe), laptops, tablet computers or smartphones topped the list. The percentage increased to 35 per cent when talking just to the younger generation (18-24 year olds).

Despite a laptop, tablet or smartphone being the number one item we would save from a house fire, a significant number of users are still reckless in terms of online security. In fact 65 per cent of smartphone owners, 16 per cent of laptop owners and 50 per cent of Macbook owners have still not taken steps to protect their device from cybercriminals leaving a wealth of personal information, photographs and memorable emails or texts at risk of being lost forever^[1].

"We are a nation of technology lovers. Where once we might have run back into a burning building to save a treasured piece of jewellery or a priceless antique, we would now prefer to save our laptop, tablet or smartphone." Said David Emm, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab. "With all our most treasured memories and personal information saved on these devices, it seems crazy that UK consumers are still not protecting them from the silent attack of a cybercriminal."

--------------------------------------------------

1. Results based on a survey by Harris Interactive, conducted in February and March 2012 among almost 9,000 consumers from the USA, Russia, Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain. The full report on the survey by Harris Interactive is available at: 

http://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/pdf/kaspersky_lab_consumer_survey_report_eng_final.pdf

The newly launched Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 offers a cost effective way to protect the most valuable and personal information saved on a computer. To learn more about Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013, please visit: http://www.kaspersky.co.uk

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2111 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7th - 10th September 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Kaspersky Lab Newsroom

Kaspersky Lab has launched a new online newsroom, Kaspersky Lab Newsroom Europe (http://newsroom.kaspersky.eu/en), for journalists throughout Europe. The newsroom is specifically designed to serve many of the media's most common requests, making it easier for journalists to find product and corporate information, facts and figures, editorial copy, images, videos and audio files, as well as details about the appropriate PR contacts.

About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is the world's largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world's top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for consumers, SMBs and Enterprises. The company currently operates in almost 200 countries across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide. Learn more at http://www.kaspersky.co.uk. For the latest on antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and other IT security issues and trends, visit: http://www.securelist.com/.

*The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2010. The rating was published in the IDC report Worldwide IT Security Products 2011-2015 Forecast and 2010 Vendor Shares - December 2011. The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2010.

Follow us on Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/kasperskyuk

Like us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/Kaspersky

^© 2012 Kaspersky Lab. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for Kaspersky Lab products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Kaspersky Lab shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

SOURCE Kaspersky Lab