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In 2024, the mobile phone cybersecurity landscape is more important than ever before. With most people carrying a smartphone everywhere they go, mobile phones are often the target of cyber attacks and thieves.
With hackers finding more unique ways of accessing people’s personal information from their smartphones, everyone needs to be aware of the measures they can put in place to limit the chance of their personal data being stolen.
With this in mind, we’ve surveyed 2,000 Brits with smartphones to discover how people approach mobile phone privacy in 2024. We’ve revealed how people are protecting their information, and their fears of having data breached and have even looked into the apps which are stealing the most data from users.
Key findings:
Over 2 million Brits have 5 unused, but working, mobile phones stored at home.
Just 1 in 10 (11%) of people check T&Cs before downloading an app to their phone.
1 in 3 Brits think their phone is listening to them.
Gen Z are the most conscious about mobile phone privacy, with just 4% not using any protection on their phones.
£17.5 billion was lost by Brits over the last decade when upgrading mobile phones.
Facebook is the app which is most likely to be hacked (42%), followed by Instagram (30%) and WhatsApp (17%).
Instagram and Facebook have access to 81.63% of a user’s data, more than any other apps.
There are many ways in which people can protect their mobile phones from cybersecurity breaches. While some may be more well-known and used than others, we’ve uncovered just how savvy Brits are when it comes to protecting their personal data.
Arguably one of the best-known tactics to secure a smartphone is using a passcode, or touch/Face ID. Our survey found that more than half (55%) of people are securing their mobile phone with a pin, 28% use touch ID, 1 in 5 (20%) use Face ID, 17% use two-factor authentication and just 9% use a pattern.
However, the study also found that 54% of people are downloading apps from third-party sources, instead of using the official app store on their phone (for example, Apple App Store or Google Play) - we urge people to avoid doing this!
Almost half (43%) of Brits say they keep their apps updated at all times and install the latest software as soon as it’s available. However, just 29% of people are limiting what apps can access in their phone settings.
Interestingly, Gen Z are the most privacy savvy, with only 4% saying that they don’t use any protection on their phones.
Shockingly, more than half (52%) of Brits have at least 3 unused, but working, mobile phones in their home. 2,009,100 people in the country even admit to having 5 unused phones stored in their house - it turns out there are some real ‘tech squirrelers’ in the UK!
When asked the reason for keeping old mobile phones instead of recycling them, almost a third (29%) of Brits say they are worried that their data wouldn’t be fully wiped, even after a factory reset. Similarly, 1 in 5 admit to not being aware of the financial incentives or rewards to sell their old phone.
However, a recent study by Compare and Recycle, in collaboration with YouGov, revealed that a staggering £17.5 billion was lost by Brits over the last decade when upgrading mobile phones due to not taking advantage of trade-ins - shocking, right?
Other reasons cited for not recycling are not knowing how to back up and factory reset a phone (14%) and the perceived complexity of preparing the phone for recycling (12%). In addition, 1 in 3 Brits worry that their phone is listening to them…
Whether it’s the experience of being hacked, using antivirus software, or putting off smartphone updates until the latest possible minute, each person in the world has had a different journey with mobile phone privacy.
To get a better picture of the landscape of mobile phone privacy in 2024, we asked Brits about their experience with being hacked and the apps that they have experienced this with.
Shockingly, 42% of Brits admit to having their Facebook account hacked. In second place is Instagram, with 30% of people experiencing hacking with this social media platform, followed by WhatsApp (17%), Google (15%) and banking apps (12%).
Interestingly, it’s not only social media, instant messaging and banking apps at risk of being hacked. Streaming apps are also proving to be popular with scammers - 12% of people have encountered hacking with their Netflix account.
A smartphone is home to a whole host of data, from a full camera roll of sentimental images to banking app profiles. However, we wanted to know exactly what piece of data Brits would be most concerned about being stolen - the answers are very interesting…
Financial information - 60%
Photos and videos - 30%
Contacts and address book - 28%
Personal messages - 24%
Email correspondence - 23%
Social media accounts and activity - 11%
Location history - 10%
Browsing history - 8%
Health and fitness data - 4%
General app usage history - 3%
It’s not surprising that Brits are most protective over their financial information, with 60% of the UK least wanting to have this data breached. 1 in 3 (30%) of people value their camera roll the most, whereas 28% of Brits would least like to lose their contacts and address book.
Interestingly, 1% of Brits said that their dating app messages would be the most valuable to them…
The data an app takes from a user is clearly displayed on the app store. But with just 11% of Brits checking T&Cs before downloading an app, many people are unaware that their favourite apps are accessing a hell of a lot more information than they might expect.
When asked which app they think steals the most data, Brits answered Facebook (28%), Google (16%), TikTok (11%), Instagram (9%) and Amazon (8%). However, what is the truth? We’ve uncovered it all…
Our data shows that the average person has up to 30 apps downloaded on their phone. However, in terms of everyday use, the average person only actively uses 6-9 apps each day. With this in mind, most smartphones will be home to many apps that aren’t being used often, but they’ll still have access to user data (yes, even if they’re just sitting dormant on your phone).
It probably comes as no surprise that social media apps are the ones that are stealing the most data from users.
Instagram and Facebook come out on top, both having access to 81.63% of a user's data - from precise location and sensitive information to financial information and browsing history, these two social media apps are officially the most invasive.
Threads and Messenger place in joint second, with both apps accessing 78.57% of a user’s data.
YouTube is the top-ranking streaming platform (48.98%), Uber Eats is the highest-ranking food delivery platform (48.98%) and Waze is the most invasive navigation app (43.88%).
Travel apps are essential in everyday life, whether it’s to help with bookings and planning your itinerary or getting us from A to B.
However, some travel apps are more invasive than others. Our study found that Waze has access to 43.88% of a user’s data, closely followed by Uber (42.86%), Trainline (39.80%), Duolingo (38.78%) and Trip.com (36.73%).
Waze has access to a whole host of data, from usage data and location information for analytic reasons, to ‘other data’ and user content for product personalisation.
Banking apps are a day-to-day essential for many and are officially the apps that Brits would be most scared to be accessed by hackers.
However, even banking companies have varying levels of access to our data depending on the app.
Out of the banking apps analysed, our study found Monese to be the most invasive banking app, having access to 34.69% of a user’s data. Other standouts include Chase (23.47%), Barclays UK (21.43%), Natwest (18.37%) and Royal Bank of Scotland (18.37%).
Interestingly, American Express is the least invasive banking app, accessing just 4.08% of a user’s data. The app accesses usage data for analytic purposes and identifiers, usage data and diagnostics for app functionality reasons.
Kroo (5.10%), Santander (7.14%), Nationwide, HSBC and Revolut (8.16%) also require limited access to a user’s personal information.
When it comes to dating apps, there are many different choices to find the perfect match and each app has its own USP. Whether you choose to use Bumble because women can start the conversation first or Hinge because of the varied information you get from a potential partner, each dating platform has its benefits.
However, one element that is often overlooked when comparing dating apps is how much data they steal from users - we’ve looked into it so you don’t have to.
Badoo is officially the dating app which steals the most data from users. From user content and contacts to usage data and sensitive information, Badoo accesses 40.82% of a lovebird’s personal information.
Following closely behind is Bumble (35.71%), Grindr (33.67%), Tinder (32.65%) and Hinge (24.49%).
While we can warn against the apps that are taking the most data from users, it’s also important to shine a light on the apps that aren’t accessing much data from users.
The navigation app, What3Words, officially takes no data from a user and is one of the least invasive apps available on the app store.
Travel apps, Booking.com and EasyJet also have access to limited amounts of user data. Booking.com only tracks a user’s identifiers, an overall 1.02% of all data. EasyJet tracks identifiers and ‘other data’ for app functionality purposes, a total of 2.04% of all user data.
And even Greggs has access to limited data (5.10%) - turns out Greggs isn’t bothered about your sausage roll purchase patterns after all…
What3Words - 0%
Booking.com - 1.02%
EasyJet - 2.04%
ShortMax - 3.06%
Asda Rewards - 5.10%
Greggs - 5.10%
Tui - 5.10%
There are many ways that people can protect their mobile phone privacy which they aren’t currently doing.
Use a privacy screen protector to prevent others from viewing your screen
Shockingly, just 6% of the population are using privacy screen protectors. Whether you’re commuting to work on public transport and trying to access your online banking, or browsing the shops and logging into your social media, there are plenty of opportunities for hackers to view your phone logins. A privacy screen protector eliminates this problem and shields the content of your phone from any prying eyes.
Only download apps from official app stores on your smartphone
Third-party sources lack the same security measures that official app stores have (e.g. Google Play, Apple App Store). Unofficial sources can pose serious security risks and it is not worth the risk of downloading anything from a third-party source. If not available from the official app stores, it’s best to go without.
Check the T&Cs of apps before you download them
Just 1 in 10 (11%) people check T&Cs before downloading an app, meaning that many people have no idea what levels of access each app is allowed. Checking T&Cs ensures you know exactly what each app has access to, instead of just guessing or turning a blind eye.
Don’t save all of your logins to your phone
It’s all too easy to save logins to your phone, especially as many phones now encourage this for ease. Our survey shows that 14% of people are saving logins to their phones, however, we urge against it. It would be all too easy for a hacker to access all areas of your phone with a saved password.
Don’t use the same password for multiple websites/apps
While it may be tempting to input the same password for all apps, this does put you at risk. If hackers manage to guess one password, they’ll have access to every single one of your accounts - it’s just not worth it.
Secure your phone with two-factor authentication
Picture this - you use the same password for every account and your password gets breached. While this would usually mean a hacker now has access to everything, two-factor authentication adds another layer of protection. By adding two-factor authentication to your device, you’re helping to combat the risk associated with compromised passwords.
Limit what apps can access in your settings
A smartphone user has a lot of control over what an app can access. Simply taking a look through app settings on your smartphone, will show exactly what each app is taking from you. You can then limit any access that you’re not happy with.
Don’t connect to unknown or public Wi-Fi networks
1 in 10 (11%) people admit to connecting to unknown WiFi networks regularly when out and about. While this is often fine when visiting restaurants or shops, an unknown network can leave you vulnerable to the work of hackers - if in doubt, use your air time data if possible.
Factory reset your phone after use and recycle it
There are many myths and misconceptions about recycling an old phone, with 1 in 4 (23%) Brits believing that their data can be stolen from their phone after a factory reset. However, this is simply not the case - once a factory reset has taken place, there is no way in which anyone can access your data - it’s impossible. With this in mind, it’s always best to recycle your phone for sustainability reasons and also to give you some extra cash in your pocket.
Whether you’ve been the victim of a cybersecurity breach or you’re new to the world of data protection, it’s never too late to learn how you can better protect your personal information. It’s a fact that phone theft is on the rise so we all need to minimise our vulnerabilities in case we become a target.
If you require more information on recycling your old phone without the risk of any data being stolen, visit our blog here.
Compare and Recycle commissioned a survey of 2,000 adult Brits with smartphones via OnePoll in July 2024, with a focus on people’s attitudes and experiences with mobile phone privacy - from their stories of hacking to the way they are protecting their smartphones. The survey criteria were as follows: UK adults aged between 18 and 65+ who own a smartphone from 30 different cities.
Compare and Recycle also looked into the top 100 apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play to see which app has access to the most data from a user, as displayed in the T&Cs on each app store. Each app was then scored out of 100 and a rank was established.
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