The latest KPMG Report revealed that online security was an issue for 90% of web users globally!! That’s a pretty high stat by any comparison and a suggestion that consumer awareness of online threats is most definitely growing!
Great… job done!
That was my somewhat flippant and hopeful first thought! In the security market education is the first hurdle, if people at least acknowledge the risks of online security and privacy threats, then our job of preventing these threats from manifesting into reality, is much easier!! Well that was the theory
Online scams… It’ll not happen to me today
From a U.K. perspective the report announced that we too are concerned with these issues; 88percent of U.K users are worrying about their online security and 86percent about their privacy!
So… this all seems pretty positive. I’m thinking we’re going to be inundated with calls from hundreds of partners, looking to set up thousands of these new ‘aware’ customers! Not quite lol.
The problem is that like many things in life we often opt for convenience, regardless of what are heads are screaming at us! In the main when it comes to investing time and effort into safeguarding ourselves online or taking a gamble that ‘It’ll never happen to me,” the latter tends to be the safe bet! I’ll be fine today and I’ll get protected tomorrow…
So as interesting as it is to see the percentages of those security concerned peeps worldwide, a much more useful figure, I think, would be in relation to what percentage of that 90% have actually done something about it! Let’s be honest, the problem is that with mobile internet everything is just way too CONVENIENT! The easy option would be to just avoid engaging in the relinquishing of any personal info online….. but let’s be real.
In a world where social media, online banking and online shopping are the major engagements for cyber users, that’s really not an option.
The conflict
The main reason this report caught my attention, apart from the relevant stats, was the ironic conflict in the information.
The fact that in the same report the percentages for those concerned about online security are equally as high as the number of people now engaging in mobile commerce, had me screaming WHAT???
It reinforces my point above that the usefulness of the service often outweighs the concerns. Practicality is reserved for tomorrow!
As we’re told by KPMG;
Despite concerns over privacy and data security, people around the world are adopting the mobile internet at an astonishing pace as an easy and convenient method of carrying out everyday transactions including banking and shopping.
Compared with only 18 months ago, the global percentage of consumers who have used their mobile device for banking has more than doubled from 19percent to 46percent, while the percentage who have used it to buy goods and services has gone from 10percent to 28percent.
What to make of it all….
As worried as everyone is about online security, the advantages of mobile internet are just too much of a lure. The solution… get protected!!!!! None of us want to give up on the convenience mobile commerce poses but at the same time, as online scams and identity theft become more sophisticated , the reality is, the chances of being targeted is another increasing percentage!
Tudor has his say
Tudor Aw, Head of Technology, KPMG Europe, notes the obvious contrasts in the report and draws his own conclusions;
“At first sight, these concerns over privacy might seem to conflict with our findings that consumers are more willing to have their profile information tracked, but there seems to be a clear distinction in consumers’ minds between uncontrolled use of personal information, and properly regulated use. They do see the value in allowing service providers to have access to the information necessary for more tailored services, but they are only prepared to do this if the risks are controlled and, crucially, if there is some value in it for them.
“But the twin issues of inadequate privacy and poor security are definitely uppermost in consumers’ minds, and may be holding back the further development of the internet as a commercial tool. Consumers around the world see solving these issues as a joint responsibility of service providers, who should improve systems and be more transparent in their reporting on security matters, and regulators, who should introduce tougher privacy and security regulations.”
So, what do you think? Ask yourself the same questions and identify what percentage you make up? Does your concern over online security simply remain a concern… or is a more proactive approach your smug security?
