As technology evolves, so does the way we interact with others around us, with our mobile phones becoming a means of fulfilling our on-the-go, internet-dependent lifestyles, reveals a new survey by software maker Norton.

The survey, that sheds light on Indians' mobile phone usage habits, the importance of their personal information, and their level of understanding when it comes to mobile security, reveals:

Mobile phone is a necessity in our lives
Indians are no longer using their mobile phones just to stay connected, but also to fulfill necessary daily tasks and engage in leisurely activities that enhance their lifestyle.

The survey uncovered that a staggering 72 per cent of the online population in India possesses at least one mobile phone, which is on par with the number of people who own a computer (92 per cent).

While 90 per cent of respondents access the Internet via their computers, almost half of the population (48 per cent) use their phones to access the internet, highlighting the evident need for Indians to stay connected.

The top online mobile phone activities include social networking (60 per cent), reading the news (44 per cent) and online messaging (42 per cent). These activities are closely followed by mobile banking and payments (34 per cent), location-based tasks, including navigation (25 per cent); and online shopping (24 per cent).

Need for greater awareness of mobile security
While 60 per cent Indians acknowledge mobile threats are real, almost 38 per cent of the mobile users in India do not use passwords to protect their phones, a very simple action that can help to protect personal information in the event of loss or theft of the device. Additionally, 17 per cent are not aware if they can remotely track their phone using GPS navigation software. These findings somewhat reflect the lack of mobile security knowledge among Indian mobile users.

Indians value contact information the most
43 per cent Indians have had their mobile phone lost or stolen, with the majority (59 per cent) losing it. For the victims, over three quarters (77 per cent) mentioned losing their contact information was the worst part of the experience, and 50 per cent felt their privacy had been invaded. To resolve the situation, three in four Indians had paid an average of Rs14,350.

In fact, 70 per cent Indians would have paid a "ransom" averaging Rs14,506 in order to resolve their lost or stolen phone issue, and one in two would forgo a date with their favourite celebrity rather than lose their mobile phone! This further reinforces the high dependency Indians have on their phones and the value they place on their personal information.

"It is promising to know that 73 per cent of connected Indians believe that security software would have helped in their mobile data recovery," Norton said in its study.

David Freer, Vice President of Norton for Asia Pacific & Japan. says, "India is eventually being a very tech savvy nation that is hugely mobile and connected. Consumers have a good understanding of online threats that can affect them on their computers, but mobile security threats are something they need to start being aware of. "With greater connectivity to the internet through mobile devices, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting this platform. With so much valuable and personal information residing on our mobile devices, mobile users need to have the right security measures in place - both a reliable mobile security solution and personal diligence to back up important information. "

Norton said that its mobile security for Android devices addresses some of today's most common mobile issues, including device loss and data protection. "Norton Mobile Security has anti-theft, anti-malware, locate and remote wipe features. Norton Mobile Security Lite is available for free in English on the Google Play Store."

For users seeking additional protection, there is the option to upgrade to the full featured Norton Mobile Security for an annual subscription.

This quantitative online survey was conducted in February 2012 by The Leading Edge, an independent market research firm on behalf of Norton by Symantec. The Leading Edge conducted the survey among a sample size of 500 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 years, within each of the following five markets: Singapore, China, Japan, India and Australia.