77% of Russians Believe They Are Being Monitored Through Mobile Devices

Researchers from the antivirus company ESET conducted a survey among Russians who actively use mobile devices. The results showed that the majority of respondents believe they are being monitored through their smartphones. Notably, concerns about potential surveillance are more common among older people.

According to the survey, 77% of respondents said they suspect their activities are being spied on, with a significant portion of these being people over the age of 35. Younger respondents (ages 18 to 24, making up 35% of the total) are more likely to dismiss such concerns as paranoia.

About 40% of Russians stated that search history is tracked on all mobile devices, while just over 25% are convinced that all device activity is transmitted. Fourteen percent consider the camera and microphone to be the main threats, believing these are the primary tools used for surveillance.

The majority of respondents (65%) are well aware of targeted advertising and cite it as the main reason for tracking user actions. Forty-seven percent believe that government agencies are behind the surveillance, while 39% blame scammers.

According to the survey results obtained by RBC, Russians are most afraid of the compromise of personal data, intimate photos, as well as the interception of messages and tracking of their interests.

When it comes to protecting their privacy, 45% of respondents said they disable location tracking on their devices, 39% check app permissions, and 34% go so far as to avoid discussing personal topics over the phone.

It’s worth noting that a group of specialists has found a way to prevent the tracking of mobile subscribers’ geolocation data and the transfer of this information to marketers. The document “Pretty Good Phone Privacy” details the anti-surveillance technology developed by experts from the University of Southern California and Princeton University.