Smartphones Are Better Spies than Computers.

• Position: MOBILE DEVICES

Google's Consumer Barometer indicates that, for many people in the U.S., Internet access is smartphonecentric, as 35% use smartphones more often than computers or tablets to connect to the Internet. Moreover, a Global Web Index report shows that as many as 16% of the world's online population is mobile-only Relying on smartphones to go online is particularly popular in countries with populations that are younger.

"Unfortunately, few people realize that mobile devices are even better at spying on them than computers," says Daniel Markuson, a digital privacy specialist at NordVPN. "Millions of apps make it easy to use smartphones not only for social interaction, but for payment or storing sensitive data. That means users are vulnerable to security breaches as well as personal hacking attacks, especially on public Wi-Fi."

Here are a few tips from Markuson that can help protect your privacy while using a smartphone:

* Recognize suspicious messages. Sometimes people tend to trust a text message more than an email. However, in reality, a "smishing" attack is as dangerous as an email phishing attack. It usually is a text message urging you to click on a link. If you do, a malicious app may be installed on your smartphone, or you may be tricked into giving up your sensitive data.

* Be vigilant when downloading apps. There are apps particulariy designed to collect your data...