Intel Security Study Reveals Millennials Are More Likely to Unplug While on Vacation Than Gen X
June 21 2016 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
Email, Geotagging and Social Media
Activities Can Jeopardize Consumers’ Security While
Traveling
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Intel Security conducted a study to
better understand consumers’ digital behaviors while
traveling.
- Survey revealed 49 percent of
millennials are more willing to leave their smartphone at home
while on vacation than those in their 40s and 50s.
- Most vacationers will remain connected
while traveling, and roughly 55 percent of respondents who planned
to disconnect were unable to do so.
In preparation for summer travel season, Intel Security
conducted a study, “Digital Detox: Unplugging on Summer Vacation,”
to better understand the ways consumers stay digitally connected
while traveling and ways they may unknowingly be putting their
personal identity and devices at risk. Roughly 65 percent of U.S.
respondents define being unplugged as having no internet usage at
all, while half said being unplugged means they did not make any
phone calls. The survey challenges a misconception in society that
millennials would be the least likely to leave their devices behind
on vacation – 49 percent of U.S. millennials actually admitted that
they were willing to unplug on vacation, while only 37 percent of
those respondents between 40-50 years of age would do so.
Summer vacation is full of distraction and opportunity, and
savvy criminals have learned how to capitalize on these moments.
Travelers can be targets for cybercriminals who count on human and
device vulnerabilities to provide them with a point of access to
consumers’ data and devices. They can gain access to sensitive
information via unsecured smartphones, laptops and even wearables,
while also collecting data from social channels.
“Consumers rely on technology to stay connected to their
physical and digital worlds – whether at work, home or on
vacation,” said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at
Intel Security. “People are often quick to use devices on vacation
to access sensitive information without considering the potential
risk. As a result, it’s crucial to impart safe digital habits to
help consumers stay more secure when traveling.”
Consumers need to be vigilant and take precautionary security
measures to prevent their personal information from being lost or
stolen while on the road. Despite many respondents’ lack of success
with unplugging, those who were able to unplug reaped major
benefits.
Vacay-Zen:
- More than half (55 percent) of U.S.
participants who intended to unplug from their digital devices on
vacation were unable to do so.
- Sixty-five percent of U.S. survey
participants claimed their vacation was more enjoyable after
unplugging. They felt less stress and were able to better absorb
their surroundings.
- Roughly 88 percent of Americans
admitted it did not stress them out to be unplugged from work and
life back at home. And 51 percent of those who unplugged reported
they connected better with travel partners because of
unplugging.
- American men are more willing to leave
their phone at home while going on vacation. Roughly 47 percent of
men said they would leave their phones behind, while only 37
percent of women said that they would.
Work Timeout:
- In an always-on world, it’s hard for
people to unplug. In fact, 68 percent of U.S. participants reported
checking their personal and work email at least once a day, every
day while on vacation.
- Americans are the least successful at
abstaining from work emails (49 percent) while on vacation compared
to Singaporeans (61 percent), Canadians (60 percent), Germans (59
percent), Mexicans (59 percent), the French (56 percent), the Dutch
(54 percent), Brazilians (53 percent), and Spaniards (52
percent).
Tips to Minimize Your Travel Security Risks:
- Create Social Walls: We know how
boring waiting in airports can be and oftentimes this boredom can
lead to posting updates from your mobile device. Whether it’s your
location or that selfie where your hair looks just right, criminals
are more able to monitor your whereabouts via social activity and
take advantage of you when you have the weakest protection.
- Be Careful When You Share: We
love to share our experiences with friends and family via social
media, but it’s important to not indicate publicly where or when
you’ll be taking that relaxing vacation. Wait until you return home
before posting all about it; otherwise, you could leave yourself
open to would-be thieves who want to know when your home will be
vacant.
- Limit Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Use:
Data can be expensive, but switching on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when
out and about can be a recipe for disaster. Connecting to
unprotected Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices can expose your personal
information to a cybercriminal. You should be especially careful
when exchanging payment information. With this in mind, make sure
to update your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi history by removing previously
“remembered” wireless networks, like “cafewifi.”
- Check and Monitor Your
Accounts: Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your
bank account history. If you aren’t meticulous about monitoring
your activity, a criminal could have access to your accounts for
quite some time before you are aware.
Find more information:
- Blog post from Gary Davis:
http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/unplugging-survey-2016
- Join the conversation on social media
with #unplugging
- Visit the Intel Security Facebook page
at facebook.com/intelsecurity and McAfee Security Advice Center for
information on the latest consumer threats and online safety
tips.
Study Methodology
In March 2016, Intel Security commissioned MSI International to
conduct an online global study among 13,960 consumers between the
ages of 21 to 54, evenly split by gender.
About Intel Security
Intel Security, with its McAfee product line, is dedicated to
making the digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel
Security is a division of Intel Corporation. Learn more
at www.intelsecurity.com.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of
others.
Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used by
Intel Corporation under license.
No computer system can be absolutely secure
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160621005426/en/
Intel SecurityCraig Sirois ,
214-405-2335craig.sirois@intel.comorAshley Dolezal,
650-801-0931ashley.dolezal@zenogroup.com
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