Most of the smartphone users use more than 10 apps on their smartphones/tablets during a typical week. The majority of these apps are connected to the most critical accounts such as e-mail, texting, banking, social media, payment apps and even apps linked to our credit cards. Developers normally create apps that require one-time log-in to ensure ease of use for days, weeks, months or until users manually revokes access.

According to the McAfee report, about 36 percent of smartphone users don't use password protection. The report, citing its recent global survey, notes users are “largely unconcerned” about keeping their information safe on their mobile devices.

“For example, only one in five respondents have backed up the data on their smartphone and tablet, and more than one in ten (15%) save password information on their phone. This means that if their phone falls into the wrong hands, they risk opening up all sorts of personal information such as bank details and online logins to whoever finds the device”, adds the report.

McAfee points out that having a password or PIN does not guarantee data is safe, and more than half of survey respondents (55 percent) admitted they had shared these details with others, including their children.

The security firm has also cited some pointers to keep mobile devices safe such as: