TWO surveys in recent days point towards a need for a greater sense of security when we go about our digital dealings.
Global non-profit organisation, the Internet Society announced the findings of its APAC Internet Policy Issues Survey, which revealed that nine out of 10 consumers “lack confidence in manufacturers” when it comes to providing secure Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Some 60% of the 1,000 surveyed said they are unlikely to use an IoT device if there are no guarantees of security or if their personal information is not fully protected.
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Their concerns about personal security were in the following areas:
- 81% were worried about their personal information being leaked;
- 73% were worried that hackers may take control of their devices and used them to commit crimes;
- 72% were worried about hackers gaining access to personal information;
- 71% were worried about being monitored without their knowledge or consent.
Alarming Consumer Behaviour
Cybersecurity software developer, ESET, in its 2018 APAC Consumer Behaviour survey raised a related issue in its findings.
Its survey of 1,000 respondents in Singapore revealed that 42% of Singaporeans experienced a data breach in the past 12 months.
These breaches range from stolen personal data being used, fraudulent charges on bank accounts, social media breaches to malware breaches and the most prominent, virus attacks.
With the amount of time spent online and the volume of digital transactions taking place daily, consumers need to be mindful of basic security hygiene, said ESET’s regional sales and marketing director, Parvinder Walia.
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Social media and Internet downloads, between them, share a third of the source of cyber-attacks.
ESET added that only 22% of respondents checked if a website is secure prior to making a transaction.
While 40% said they would trust familiar websites, these were often prime targets for phishing activity.
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Inadequate Security
Rajnesh Singh, regional director of the Internet Society said: “Currently, the security measures that are in place do not match the degree of concern from current and future owners of IoT devices.”
Of those polled in the Internet Society’s survey, 84% wanted the option to delete personal data collected, and what data was being captured. The majority of respondents wanted to know who had access to the information, where it would be stored and how it would be used.
These are among the issues being discussed in STORM magazine’s Keep It Going: the Nth revolutioN.
Watch out for reports in the coming days.
