According to a representative survey of the Austrian population, smartphones significantly influence Austrians’ daily lives. More than three-quarters of respondents reported taking their smart devices to bed, with about half even bringing them to the bathroom. The cybersecurity company NordVPN announced this in a press release on Wednesday. How smartphones are used varies considerably.

While 35 percent of Austrian respondents check their emails on the toilet, about a quarter of Austrians use their phones in the bathroom to play games. However, this habit comes with risks—12 percent reported that their phone had fallen into the toilet at some point. According to the survey, activities like checking social media or watching films and videos are more common in bed.

According to Paulius Vanagas, Country Director for Switzerland and Austria at NordVPN, the growing fear of being without a smartphone—known as nomophobia—highlights the dependency on digital connections. However, caution is particularly necessary in the field of cybersecurity, as there is still a lack of awareness about safe online behavior in Austria.

“Despite the increase in cyber threats such as malware and ransomware, many people still underestimate the extent of the dangers in the digital world,” Vanagas explained. He recommended protective measures like using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being careful with privacy settings.