A new Microsoft survey finds that four in 10 Americans are hit with online fraud attacks weekly and even daily through their PCs.
About 42% of Americans reportedly experienced weekly and even daily efforts by hackers to gain access via PCs, compared to 18% via mobile phones; 28% via landline telephones and 22% via tablet computers.
The report reveals a rise in the number of individuals taking care to defend their mobile devices from hackers, with 73% of them taking steps to defend themselves on mobile devices, up percentage points from similar survey in 2012.
Overall, American Internet users implement three unique steps to help protect their mobile devices compared to five steps to help protect PCs and eight steps to guard personal information in general.
As part of efforts to protect their devices, about 49% of thosed surveyed, download apps from trusted companies or publishers; 41% of them regularly update mobile programmes and apps; 39% of them use a four-digit PIN or passcode to lock the mobile device and 37% of them opt for a latest mobile OS.
Majority of respondents are concerned about general scams compared to two years ago, with 65% of them voicing concerns about schemes including phishing, spear-phishing, fake websites and healthcare scams.
