Online Safety Greater Concern Than Job Loss

A national survey of U.S. adults released by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) finds that the loss of personal or financial information the top personal concern for adults.

I'm not sure about you, but I was shocked that the loss of personal information was of greater concern than the loss of a job or of health care coverage! The skew of this information is important for companies to realize how data breaches can affect consumer brand perception and trust.

Heart + Mind Strategies conducted a national survey of 1,007 U.S. adults. The survey found

• The loss of personal information was the top pain point with 54% saying that the prospect of losing this data had them "extremely concerned".
• 31% reported identity theft as their greatest concern to personal safety and security on the Internet.
• 96% of American adults feel a personal responsibility to be safer and more secure online.

The survey found that consumers want simple, actionable resources to help ensure their safety and security online - this is the kind of data the NCSA and APWG were looking for in order to inform their campaign work.