New report reveals that many consumers would be willing to compromise their privacy and share personal data in exchange for payment

Woburn, MA – March 27, 2019 — /BackupReview.info/ — Kaspersky Lab has released a new survey report which reveals that over half of internet users (56%) feel that complete privacy in the modern digital world is impossible. The research also found that many consumers would be willing to give away their own personal data to a stranger, if they received money or something free in return.

Digital privacy is becoming nearly as important as privacy in the physical world. If personal information falls into the wrong hands online, it can have a huge real-world impact. Recent high-profile privacy scandals, such as those plaguing Facebook and Equifax, have shaken consumers’ trust that their digital data can ever be truly secure.

For many people, their misgivings about digital privacy may stem from personal experience. Kaspersky Lab’s research found that a quarter of people (26%) have had their private data accessed by someone without their consent, rising to almost a third (31%) of 16- to 24-year-olds. The consequences of having their privacy compromised ranged from experiencing stress (36%), to facing spam and advertisements (25%) to losing money (21%).

Believing that complete privacy is unattainable, some consumers would be willing to sell their own information, rather than waiting for someone to else to capitalize off it. Kaspersky Lab found that 39 percent of respondents would accept money in exchange for giving a complete stranger full access to their private data. Furthermore, 18 percent of people would sacrifice their privacy and share their data if they received something free in return.

Despite a willingness to sell their data, consumers are still taking action to secure their devices and keep others from accessing their personal information. Nearly two-thirds of people (62%) password protect their devices to keep information private. Furthermore, 35 percent regularly check and change the privacy settings on their devices, services and apps. This statistic varies slightly by generation, rising to 42 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds and dropping to 28 percent of those over age 55. A quarter of people (25%) cover their webcams to avoid being spied on.

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“People are growing increasingly concerned about their privacy as they see continued examples of how their data can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands,” said Brian Anderson, vice president of consumer sales, Kaspersky Lab North America. “Whether it’s breaches leading to identity theft, cyberattacks on retailers causing credit card fraud, or someone snooping through your phone, it never feels good when you find out that your data has been exposed without your consent. Data privacy is achievable by everyone, and breaches do not have to seem unavoidable. Strong digital hygiene and increased awareness of privacy best practices, combined with a reliable security solution, can help prevent your data from being left out for anyone to view or misuse.”

To help maintain your digital privacy, Kaspersky Lab recommends the following tips for consumers:

  • Think twice before posting on social media channels. Could there be wider consequences of making your views or information public? Could content be used against you or to your detriment now or in the future?
  • Do not share passwords to your online accounts with family or friends. It might seem like a convenient way of sharing accounts, but it also adds to the likelihood of passwords being uncovered by fraudsters. Keep your passwords to yourself to help safeguard your private information – especially if a relationship goes sour.
  • Avoid sharing information with or permitting account access to third parties unless necessary, to minimize the exposure of your data falling into the wrong hands.
  • Only download legitimate applications from reputable providers to store and protect your sensitive data.
  • Use reliable security solutions for comprehensive protection from a wide range of threats that could compromise your personal data, such as Kaspersky Security Cloud and Kaspersky Internet Security

For more information, read Kaspersky Lab’s full report on our website — https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/privacy-report-2019/

About Kaspersky Lab 
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company, which has been operating in the market for over 21 years. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into next generation security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com

Media Contact 
Meghan Rimol
Meghan.Rimol@kaspersky.com
781.503.2671

Source: Kaspersky Lab

 

 

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