Trend Micro Reveals Risky Mobile Behaviors

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TSE: 4704), a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services, today released the results of a study into the behavior of corporate mobile workers.

In recent years, mobile technology and mobile working has increased. While this can benefit worker accessibility, effectiveness and productivity, it can also lead to many increased risks. According to the study by Trend Micro, the more mobile an end user is, the more likely he is to send confidential information via Instant Messaging or Web mail.

The study indicates that in Japan, both desktop and mobile, corporate end users are more likely than users elsewhere to send confidential information to colleagues or business partners through instant messages or web mail.

In the US, 58 percent of respondents who have access to the Internet outside the company network via company laptops admitted to sending confidential information by Web mail. This is comparable to admissions of 42 percent of those who always connect to the internet via the company network

According to respondents from Germany, UK and the US, mobile users are also more likely than desktop users, to engage in risky online behavior such as visiting social networking sites and downloading movies, while on the company network. Of German respondents, for example, 54 percent of mobile end users downloaded executable files while they were on their company’s network, compared to 41 percent of desktop users.

Trend Micro Inc.