Kaspersky Lab: 90 Percent of People in the UAE Pick Up Their Connected Device to Avoid Conversing With Another Human Being

Connected devices are becoming essential to keeping people in contact with each other, but for many they are also a much needed comfort blanket in a variety of social situations when they do not want to interact with others. A recent survey from Kaspersky Lab in the UAE has confirmed this trend in behavior after 90% of people admitted they use a device to pretend to be busy when they don’t want to talk to someone else, showing the importance of keeping connected devices protected under all circumstances.

Imagine you’ve arrived at a bar and you’re waiting for your date. The bar is busy, and people are chatting all around you. What do you do now? Strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know? Grab your phone from your pocket or handbag until your date arrives to keep yourself busy? Why talk to humans or even make eye-contact with someone else when you can stare at your connected device instead?

The truth is, our use of devices is making it much easier to avoid small talk or even be polite to those around us, and new Kaspersky Lab research has found that 89% of people in the UAE use one when they do not know what to do in a social situation. They are also the ‘go-to’ distraction for people even when they aren’t trying to look busy or avoid someone’s eye. 41% of people admit to using a device just to kill time every day and 34% use it as a daily distraction.

In addition to just being a distraction, devices are also a lifeline to those who would rather not talk directly to another person in day-to-day situations, to complete essential tasks. In fact, 29% of people would prefer to carry out tasks such as ordering a taxi or finding directions to where they need to go via a website and an app, because they find it an easier experience than speaking with another person.

Whether they are helping us avoid direct contact or filling a void in our daily lives, our constant reliance on devices has become a cause for panic when they become unusable. A third (35%) of people surveyed in the UAE worry that they will not be able to entertain themselves if they cannot access a connected device. 16% are even concerned that they won’t be able to pretend to be busy if their device is out of action.

Dmitry Aleshin, VP for Product Marketing, Kaspersky Lab said, “The reliance on connected devices is impacting us in more ways than we could have ever expected. There is no doubt that being connected gives us the freedom to make modern life easier, but devices are also vital to help people get through different and difficult social situations. No matter what your ‘connection crutch’ is, it is essential to make sure your device is online and available when you need it most.”

To ensure your device lifeline is always there and in top health – no matter what the reason or situation – the below advices will help to keep your connection safe and secure:

• I want to use my device while waiting for a friend – is it secure to access the bar’s Wi-Fi?

Secure Connection* feature included in Kaspersky Total Security helps to keep devices protected against network threats, even if the user needs to use insecure public Wi-Fi hotspots.

• I’ve lost my phone! How will I keep myself entertained now?

Should the unthinkable happen and you lose or have your phone stolen, Anti-Theft feature in Kaspersky Total Security can track and protect your device from data breaches, for complete peace of mind. Remote lock and locate features ensure your device remains secure until you are reunited.