Nearly four out of five people in Britain believe their personal information is unsafe with commercial websites and businesses. And they think that those responsible for losing data should be hung drawn and quartered. String 'em up!
According to research, commissioned by Symantec, we live in unforgiving, Dickensian but digital times. Around 89 percent of UK folk think that those responsible for data breaches should be thrown in gaol - do not pass go, do not keep your company car.
According to the study, four out of five respondents believe that being at fault when data goes missing should be a ‘one strike and you're out' crime. Lose a disc, get a suit with arrows on it.
In our current economic woe (I refuse to use the term 'credit crunch' as it conjures up images of plastic cereal) such 'bring back National Service' attitudes spell out a clear warning for businesses. Lose data, and you'll lose punters (and go to prison). But where there's the chance to lose money, there's a businessman listening: according to the poll 76 percent of enterprises already expect to lose customers if a data loss or breach occurs. They're on their guard.
This is just as well. Three quarters of respondents are 'concerned by how much information companies hold about them', and more than nine out of 10 refuse to divulge information to organisations that have lost data in the past. Given the essential nature of some of the Government organisations with terrible data-protection track records, this must be a hard stance to maintain without eschewing healthcare and social security. (Not least because half of the respondents said the Government is the least trustworthy organisation around. Ouch.)
Such forthright views are all very well, of course, but they are the moral majority equivalent of standing up in the pub and saying: 'that Hitler. He was a bad sort'. For all that poll respondents puffed out their chests and chastised those responsible for data breaches, most UK people are terrible at protecting their own data. Security begins at home, folks.
For instance: 73 percent of respondents in the study admitted to not checking what happens to credit card information when it leaves their sight. Trust me, waiters are a shifty lot. Even more bonkers: nearly one in five don't even check the bone fides of websites they transact with.
It's fair to say that we all need to up our game, somewhat. But there is a limit.
Symantec makes great play of the fact that nearly 90 percent of the great unwashed 'would share their name' (23 percent their date of birth) with a stranger. I can't help but feel that this is the point at which social interaction demands a certain toning down of personal security standards. Or, to put it another way, I'm not prepared to spend the rest of my life incognito, failing to celebrate my birthday, on the off chance.
Comments
Matt Egan said: Rev - apologies for my slip of the keyboard I hope the big guy will forgive meGCH q - eh insipid female journalists Where you been looking
GCH q said: Teach the children to say sweet faI also blame the computing press and some of their their insipid female journalists for making a career based purely on the back of divisive networking site
Dragon said: Why worry One organisation Capita Holdings pays my pension my SILs wagesThey hold Data on all 13 year children at school via Connexions All of it hearsay when the children were interviewed without the protection of a parent or teacher Even the Police arent allowed to do this This collected Data can be kept by Capita until the child reaches 24or even 29 The Data includes gossip about parents friends and siblings It is not subject to the Data Protection Act thanks to Maggie Thatcher so they are free to release the Data to anyone who asks for it be it future employer Social Services anyone that is except you You have no right to know what Junior has said about you Speeding in Wales Guess who has the info on whodunnit because they have the contract to pursue drivers via the DLA So much for Data Protection They have personal details of 70 of my family including Bank details NI and Income Tax numbers
Dragon said: Why worry One organisation Capita Holdings pays my pension my SILs wagesThey hold Data on all 13 year children at school via Connexions All of it hearsay when the children were interviewed without the protection of a parent or teacher Even the Police arent allowed to do this This collected Data can be kept by Capita until the child reaches 24or even 29 The Data includes gossip about parents friends and siblings It is not subject to the Data Protection Act thanks to Maggie Thatcher so they are free to release the Data to anyone who asks for it be it future employer Social Services anyone that is except you You have no right to know what Junior has said about you Speeding in Wales Guess who has the info on whodunnit because they have the contract to pursue drivers via the DLA So much for Data Protection They have personal details of 70 of my family including Bank details NI and Income Tax numbers
huangspal said: I am now at a state wherewhen asked for personal onfo for registration or access to a siteI just move away and will not divulge when I feel that the info is unnecessary for that site to requireIts invasion of privacy and is required by them for future sales purposes and for no other reason
Rev said: At least the DJ has the manners and skills that allow himher to leave Christ out of the equation
Matt Egan said: Ah Dee Jay At least YOU remain consistent Consistently willfully obscure dull and anonymous Explain clearly what your point is Or let me guess in my blogs I have recently mentioned even quoted both Symantec and Kaspersky Heres a scoop you forgot PC Tools And for that matter a little ole concern called Microsoft Christ I talk about and to a lot of companies Its my job But I work for only one the very independent website you are so keen on posting your nonsense to Man up Dee Jay Say something meaningful I dare you
Dee Jay said: Torn Between Two Lovers Feeling Like a Fool is akin to - one day Symantec then next day Kaspersky shouts the Beatle on the HillDouble agent or quits