Appdome, a mobile app defense company, has released its 4th Annual Philippines Consumer Survey of Mobile App Security, revealing that mobile end users are aware of growing security, fraud, and privacy threats when using mobile apps. The survey shows a crucial opportunity for mobile brands in the Philippines to prioritize app security and create a better user experience when attacks occur. The survey, partnered with the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), reveals the voice of Filipino consumers who demand protections included in the OWASP MAS standard. The survey data also challenges the entire mobile industry in the Philippines to improve the state of the art of mobile app protection.

The 2024 Philippines survey data adds to the 120,000+ consumer voices gathered from 12 countries over the past four years, making the Appdome Global Consumer Survey the most extensive single collection of consumer data on mobile app security, privacy, anti-fraud, and other attack vectors. Mobile applications have taken center stage in consumers’ daily lives. Mobile app protection – consisting of mobile app security, malware defense, fraud prevention, and privacy – is now critical to how consumers choose and use mobile apps and whether they choose to stay with and promote a brand.

“Cyber professionals work tirelessly to keep applications, networks, transactions, and users safe while Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other attacks increase,” said Tom Tovar, co-creator and CEO of Appdome. “Filipino consumers continue their march upward in recognizing the importance of this work, and it’s clear that they overwhelmingly support a broadening cyber, anti-fraud, anti-malware, anti-bot mandate, and higher OWASP standard, inside brand and enterprise mobile apps everywhere.”

Several upward trends are revealed in the 2024 data, including consumers’ use of mobile apps, their awareness of mobile attack vectors, the growing expectation of protection in apps, and consumers’ willingness to be brand advocates if protected. Here are some of the cyber expectations in mobile apps that hit all-time highs in the 2024 Survey:

  • Mobile vs. Web: 54.7% of Filipino consumers say they use mobile applications more than the web, dwarfing preference for online/web at 12.2%. Furthermore, 74.2% say that their use of mobile apps has increased over the last 12 months.
  • eWallet / Payment apps: 61.6% of Filipinos say they use eWallet / Payments most often, nearly doubling the rate at which global consumers use eWallet / Payment apps (31.7%)
  • Total Mobile Protection: 97.5% —the highest level ever— of Filipino consumers demand total protection in mobile apps, including mobile app data, account integrity, login, data storage, data in transit, and protection from malware and fraud.
  • Hacking, Fraud, Malware, and Social Engineering Scams: 67.6% of Filipino consumers are concerned about hacking, while 42.4% fear mobile fraud. A substantial 45.3% have been the victims of cyber-attacks and malware, while 36.4% have encountered social engineering scams.
  • Fraud Prevention: 87.5% —the highest level ever— of Filipino consumers demand brands proactively prevent mobile fraud from happening rather than reimburse them post-fraud.
  • Features vs. Security: 91.6% —the highest level ever— of Filipino consumers say that mobile app protection is equally or more important than mobile app features in their decision to use a mobile app, with 98.7% saying they evaluate the security claims of the brand before downloading a mobile app.
  • Frustrated with Inaction: 30.0% – the highest level ever – of Filipino consumers fear “developers don’t care” about protecting the mobile app. This is 25.0% higher than the global average.

Mobile consumers maintained vital perspectives on these top trends in the 2024 survey:

  • Rewarding Secure Brands: 97.5% —the highest level ever— of respondents state they will become brand advocates for mobile brands that protect their apps and use. More than half (56.4%) said they would use the highest forms of advocacy, such as app store reviews or social media endorsements.
  • Consequences for Insecure Apps: 76.3% —the highest level ever— of respondents state they would abandon a mobile brand for failing to protect their app and use.

“It’s clear that consumers are taking mobile brand promises and the emerging threat of AI attacks seriously,” said Alan Bavosa, VP of Security Products at Appdome. “AI-based attacks will take mobile app risks to a new level, and mobile brands and enterprises need to change their cyber delivery models to meet the accelerating threat head-on and maintain user trust and engagement on mobile platforms.”

To obtain Appdome’s 4th Annual “Philippines Consumer Expectations of Mobile App Security Survey,” please visit the Appdome Consumer Expectations on Mobile App Security survey page.