tech
April 26, 2026
Intensive use of cell phones raises cybersecurity risks in Colombian homes: this is what a study says
Kaspersky warns that 43% of people in the country share passwords. Photo: Courtesy
TL;DR
- 43% of Colombian users share passwords, and 86% leave mobile sessions open, increasing risks of fraud and identity theft.
- Mobile phones are now the main access point for banking, emails, social media, and personal data, making a single breach compromise an entire digital ecosystem.
- Low digital hygiene is prevalent: 22% haven't changed passwords in over a year, and 26% disable security to download apps.
- Cybercriminals use social engineering via SMS, WhatsApp, and email, leveraging AI for more convincing and harder-to-detect scam messages.
- Family digital integration means a single breach can affect multiple household members' privacy and finances.
- Children (one in six spending over 4 hours online daily) and the elderly are the most vulnerable demographics.
- Despite awareness, 15% don't know how to verify secure websites, and 38% lack cybersecurity solutions.
- Recommendations include not sharing passwords, closing sessions, distrusting urgent messages, and avoiding public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions.