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| Report: A third of internet users are victims of data breaches |
A new report from information security firm Thales claims that one in three consumers worldwide has experienced a data breach involving a company holding their personal information.
The report found that 82% of data breach victims had their lives adversely affected in some way as a result of a data breach that puts victims at increased risk for identity theft.
Despite the prevalence of data breaches, the report found that 82% of consumers still trust online digital service providers to protect their personal information.
The Thales survey also examined consumers' perceptions of how companies handle data breaches, with 54% saying companies should implement mandatory privacy controls such as encryption and two-factor authentication after a data breach.
The report also found that many consumers are willing to pressure companies and hit them financially when it comes to privacy. Some 21% of consumers polled by Thales said they would no longer use the services of a company that suffered a data breach, with 42% of consumers calling for their information to be deleted.
The report was also able to provide insights into how trust varies between regions and industries. According to the report, the financial sector is by far the sector most trusted by respondents with 42%, followed by healthcare with 27% and consumer technology with 32%. The media and entertainment industry was the lowest with just 12% trust, while trust in government was around 14%.
The report also found that consumer confidence varies by country, with Brazil and Mexico being the most surveyed countries, scoring 95% and 92% respectively when asked "How confident are you in services?" , such as b: shopping, social media, travel, etc. When it comes to the security of your personal information? "