Russians’ Smartphones Hold More Personal Data Than Before
A growing pattern across Russia shows many people keeping essential documents on their smartphones, reflecting a broader shift toward mobile-centric life in which devices serve as personal and professional hubs. In a detailed survey conducted by New Kaspersky for Kaspersky Lab and shared with socialbites.ca, nearly one in three respondents admitted storing photos of passports and other critical papers on their devices. The findings also reveal that a notable portion preserve screenshots or photos of other people’s documents, with 17 percent acknowledging this practice, 15 percent keeping business correspondence, and 13 percent recording documents so they would not forget passwords. This mix of convenience and risk highlights how everyday browsing, messaging, and document access increasingly unfold through mobile hardware, underscoring a global trend that resonates with users in North America who rely on smartphones for sensitive information as well. It also signals that what is stored on a device matters as much as where it is stored, especially when it doubles as a portable filing cabinet and a gateway to personal and financial systems.
At the same time, the December survey shows a high level of concern about mobile security among users. Around 40 percent worry that their smartphone could be infected by malware, 38 percent fear tracker software that could monitor activity, and 22 percent worry about data encryption by ransomware. These figures illustrate a broad awareness of cyber threats, yet they also reveal a lag between concern and protective action. In North America, as well as in Russia, many people continue to store sensitive information on devices that may not be adequately protected, a reality that tech professionals in Canada and the United States regularly cite when discussing consumer cybersecurity practices and risk management in an increasingly connected world.
Cybersecurity expert Dmitry Galov of Kaspersky Lab notes that people broadly recognize the threats associated with smartphones. Still, confidential and corporate data are sometimes stored on unprotected devices and exchanged through instant messaging services. He stresses that relying on luck is not a safeguard; protecting devices should be a routine, ongoing practice rather than an afterthought. For users in North America and elsewhere, this perspective translates into a call for consistent security habits, such as adopting protective measures that fit into daily routines and avoiding casual exposures that create unnecessary risk. A few prudent steps can meaningfully reduce risk and improve overall data security across devices used in daily life.
Recommendations from Kaspersky Lab emphasize securing digital documents and credentials. Keeping photos of important papers in dedicated, secure vaults can limit exposure, while password managers help safeguard secret codes and access details. When feasible, enabling two-factor authentication across services and maintaining up-to-date antivirus protection on all devices are advised strategies. These practices create formidable barriers against unauthorized access, even if a device is lost or compromised, and they are equally relevant to users in Canada and the United States who manage personal and professional information across multiple devices and platforms. Emphasizing organized digital filing, strong authentication, and regular security checks helps maintain control over sensitive data in an era where mobile devices are central to daily life.
The latest Kaspersky survey was conducted in March 2023 and included 1,217 respondents from major Russian cities. While rooted in a Russian sample, the study sheds light on universal dynamics: mobile devices today carry substantial personal data, and users face ongoing pressure to adopt stronger security habits to protect information in an increasingly connected world—an observation that resonates with North American users who navigate similar threats, from phishing to device loss, across increasingly digital lifestyles.