A new study conducted by Experian Consumer Services, which surveyed 2,249 internet using UK adults, has found that 40% believe the main responsibility for protecting identity and personal information online rests with service providers (broadband ISPs, mobile operators, banks etc.) and not themselves.
Mercifully 47% still recognised that the ultimate responsibility for protecting personal information online rests with each one of us, while 4% said it was the government’s job (god help those people!) and 8% didn’t even know.
But arguably an even more surprising result came when those same adults were asked which entity they expected to “protect and recover” their personal information in the case of a lost mobile device (phone, tablet etc.).
So, just to recap, if you lose your mobile phone then a staggering 36% think it’s actually the responsibility of their mobile operator or broadband ISP to protect and recover the personal information held within that device.. how exactly?
Admittedly network operators must hold some responsibility for keeping any data that passes over their networks secure but they surely can’t be expected to control everything we stick on our phones or post online. The buck stops with the owner.
Experian Statement (Survey Extract)
“This challenge is responded to in the views of service providers who have developed and marketed solutions and tips for consumers to encourage safe online behaviour. In some cases, the professional perspective is that consumer negligence and oversight is to blame for identity theft. However, the objective position is that security of data intrinsically lies with both parties, as a lapse by either party increases risk of exposure.”
Clearly the challenge for service providers is in understanding customer security behaviours and the degree to which they deem it necessary to be accountable for identity protection.
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