Smartphone users are more likely than PC users to regularly clean up and update their devices. With that said, both groups lag when it comes to essential cybersecurity practices, according to a new global survey by Kaspersky.
The 2026 study surveyed 7,200 people across 18 countries and found that 77% of smartphone users regularly update their operating systems and apps, compared with 53% of PC users.
Smartphone users were also more likely to remove unused applications. 73% say they delete rarely used apps compared with 47% of PC users. Similarly, 72% of smartphone users regularly manage or delete photos and videos, compared with 49% of PC users.
Security Hygiene Remains a Weak Spot
Despite being more active in general device cleanup, users on both platforms showed relatively low adoption of practices that directly protect sensitive information.
Only 33% of smartphone users and 31% of PC users regularly change their passwords. Meanwhile, just 29% of smartphone users and 28% of PC users regularly back up important data.
Reviewing app permissions and privacy settings was even less common, at 20% among smartphone users and 16% among PC users.
Kaspersky said these practices are particularly important as smartphones and computers increasingly store personal, financial and work-related information.
The company also noted that the differences in cleanup habits reflect how the devices are used. Smartphones are increasingly the primary way people access the internet, with 58% of respondents identifying them as their main internet-access device. Among respondents aged 61 and above, 58% still rely on PCs as their main way of accessing the internet.
Kaspersky recommends that users establish regular digital-cleanup routines, including deleting unused accounts and applications, reviewing privacy settings, changing passwords and setting up automatic backups.
The company also recommends using security software and a password manager to protect credentials and sensitive information stored across devices.
“Every device we use, whether a phone or a PC, holds a growing volume of personal and financial information,” said Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business at Kaspersky. “Neglecting basic digital hygiene, like removing unused accounts, backing up data or managing privacy settings, leaves that information potentially exposed.”
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