Smartphones have officially become the primary gateway to the internet for most users across Asia Pacific, but cybersecurity experts warn that security habits have not kept pace with the growing amount of sensitive data stored on mobile devices.
According to Kaspersky's latest survey conducted across 18 countries, 72% of respondents in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region now rely on smartphones as their main internet device. The trend is mirrored in Malaysia, where 72% of respondents also identified smartphones as their primary means of going online.
The survey highlights how smartphones have evolved into digital hubs for both personal and professional activities. Across APAC, 65% of respondents store personal photos and videos on their devices, while 57% keep contact information and 50% retain text messages and chat histories. Nearly half (49%) also save sensitive personal documents such as identification cards, passports and insurance records.
Mobile devices are increasingly being used for work, with 47% of APAC respondents storing work emails and 31% keeping work calendars. Financial data is also commonly stored, including banking information (38%) and passwords or login credentials (34%). More than a quarter (27%) also save AI chat histories.
Malaysian users appear even more reliant on smartphones for daily activities, with higher-than-regional averages for storing work emails (52%), shopping information (49%), notes and reminders (46%), AI chat histories (31%) and access to work systems (22%).
The recommendations come as Kaspersky reported blocking more than 18.8 million web-based cyber threats in Malaysia during 2025, equivalent to over 51,000 attempted attacks each day, underscoring the need for stronger mobile cybersecurity as smartphones become central to users' digital lives.
Anton Kivva, Kaspersky cybersecurity expert
Smartphones now contain far more than photos and contacts, making data protection a critical priority. Users should regularly back up important information, use dedicated security tools for passwords and sensitive documents, and enable features such as automatic backups, device location services and instant screen locking.
