TalkTalk’s data breach is the latest high-impact attack by cybercriminals90% of Brits worry about the security of personal information online One in five have been a victim of identity theftAlmost half (42%) don’t use online protection softwareLondon, 29 October, 2015: Affinion International is today reminding consumers in Britain of the steps they can take to better protect their information online. The advice comes in the wake of last week’s data breach at telecommunications provider TalkTalk. Research conducted by Affinion demonstrates that Brits are spending longer online and are increasingly concerned about the safety of their personal information online. Nine out of ten are worried about personal details being available publicly online, with a similar number (92%) concerned about fraudsters illegally obtaining their financial information.Despite high concerns about personal data security, 13% of Brits admit they do nothing whatsoever to protect their information while online, a figure rising to 26% among 18-24s. Almost half (42%) of consumers do not use any online protection software, leaving themselves vulnerable to online criminal threats including phishing, key logging and screen capture malware. Top tips to minimise your risk of identity fraudUse complex passwords and never use the same password for more than one account, especially for banking Check your credit report frequently for any unauthorised entries - 46% of all online fraud is first found by spotting something irregular on a credit report. Check your bank and credit statements as soon as they arrive Employ protective software across your PC and mobile devices to boost protection of your personal and financial details online against the latest threats of keylogging and malware Use a shredder before throwing away personal letters and documents. “While companies are ultimately responsible for protecting their customers’ data there are simple steps that people can take to protect themselves online,” said Giles Desforges, Affinion International’s Senior Vice President Northern Europe. “Customers should be proactive in monitoring their credit reports for unusual activity and they should use software to protect personal data and passwords while using the internet. Affinion helps brands to meet the needs of their customers and add value by offering easy to use credit monitoring and data protection products”.Affinion International provides mycreditmonitor – www.mycreditmonitor.co.uk to support consumers with expert help and tools to manage and improve their credit score. The tool offers 24/7 monitoring of a credit profile, alerts over significant changes and helps customers spot potentially fraudulent activity. -ENDS-About the researchThe report entitled Data Security Research was compiled using a combination of consumer research, secondary research and market forecasts. Consumer research was based on a survey conducted with a UK nationally representative poll of 2,002 consumers. About Affinion InternationalAffinion International, a division of Affinion Group, provides a wide range of protection and lifestyle products that offer value to consumers whilst building additional revenue streams and increased customer-to-brand loyalty and engagement for its partners. The division is made of more than 1,200 employees and offers services in 17 countries throughout Europe, Africa and South America. Over the past 15 years, Affinion International has built an impressive client base that includes 13 of the top 20 EU banks and many of Europe’s premier brands in travel and retail. For more information, visit www.affinioninternational.co.ukAbout Conlumino Conlumino is a retail research agency and consulting firm, focusing on all aspects of retailing and consumer behaviour. They work with many of the world’s leading retailers, property firms and those in the financial sector to help them maximize success through developing a thorough understanding of the sector and its likely future performance. They also work with many retail suppliers, from manufacturers to professional services firms.www.conlumino.comMedia Contacts:Simon Brooks, MSLGROUP+44 (0)20 3219 8754Source: RealWire
↧