Despite the concentration on Cybersecurity, Americans feel
their personal information is safer online than it was a few years ago.
According to the Unisys
Security Index, Americans attitudes toward online security are at an all
time low since 2007. Despite the recent
international threats and massive data breaches over the past few years,
consumers seem to feel fairly untouched by the lack Cybersecurity. The
important thing to remember is that just because less feel threaten by online
fraud, doesnt mean that the risks are any less. While Cybersecurity awareness
campaigns have helped consumers become more educated about preventative measures;
they may have also created a false sense of protection. While knowing the risks, creating stronger
passwords, and being mindful of the site you share your information with may
help prevent
fraud, it does make you exempt from it.
Another important aspect to remember is that consumer
perception is not always the best indicator of online fraud progression. Companies
are far more responsible for knowing the risks of online fraud. Business owners
may not think their role is more important, but they have much more to lose
than a single consumer. Often times if someone experience personal identity
theft or online fraud, it is much easier to salvage than if an entire companys
database is compromised. Many companies outside the obvious industries, like
payments and banking, are starting to take online fraud
prevention much more seriously as they realize that the risks are high.
Social media platforms such as Twitter,
and most recently LinkedIn, are taking precautions against identity theft by
implementing two-factor
verification. While this is temporary fix for many sites, its only a
matter of time before this solution will not be enough to prevent online fraud.
[Contributed by EVS Marketing]
