Kaspersky study: Smartphone users prioritize digital hygiene over PC users

A 2026 global study by Kaspersky involving 7,200 participants across 18 countries reveals that smartphone users are significantly more proactive regarding digital hygiene than PC users. Specifically, 77% of smartphone users regularly update their operating systems and applications, compared to only 53% of PC users. Additionally, 73% of smartphone users delete rarely used apps, while 72% regularly manage photos and videos, outpacing their PC-using counterparts.

Despite these maintenance habits, the research highlights a widespread deficiency in critical cybersecurity practices across both groups. Only about one-third of users (33% for smartphones and 31% for PCs) regularly change their passwords. Furthermore, data backup rates remain low, with only 29% of smartphone users and 28% of PC users performing regular backups. The study also noted that reviewing app permissions and privacy settings is a rare practice, performed by only 20% of smartphone users and 16% of PC users.