WASHINGTON, June 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- More than one
in five (22%) Americans say they have cancelled plans or
considered cancelling plans to attend large-scale public events due
to concerns about physical attacks and the safety of their data,
according to the new 2019 Unisys Security Index™.
The survey also found that a high majority (83%) of Americans
are concerned about a criminal attack causing physical harm at
large-scale events such as sporting events or concert festivals –
with half of respondents (50%) registering serious concern
(extremely or very concerned) about physical attacks. Asked about
data safety at such events, 81% of respondents reported some level
of concern about someone stealing their personal data when using
public Wi-Fi at such events, with 52% extremely or very concerned.
In addition, 78% are concerned about someone stealing their credit
card data when using public Wi-Fi at such events – with 52%
extremely or very concerned.
"As the former senior U.S. government official responsible for
developing, coordinating, planning and implementing security for
the Rio Olympic Games, I fully understand the 2019 Unisys Security
Index reporting a rise in citizen concern over event security,"
said Peter Ford, director, corporate
risk services, G4S. "And I know that the combined physical and
cyber focus areas are two of the most important issues that we must
continue to address."
Because many have to travel by air to attend such events, the
survey – the longest-running snapshot of consumer security concerns
conducted globally – also asked U.S. respondents about their
support for using biometric data to verify their identities at
airports. The Unisys Security Index found a large majority approved
of the use of biometrics for security, reliability and convenience
purposes. A large majority of respondents (81%) said they are
comfortable with using biometrics, with 42% citing safety and
terrorism prevention as the reason. About one-third of survey
participants stated reliability as a reason, and about one-third
cited convenience. Those who do not support the use of biometrics
for air travel most often cited lack of trust in government or
airport authorities or concerns that the data would be lost or
hacked as the reasons they do not support it.
"In light of the many highly-publicized attacks at large public
gatherings, it might not be surprising that many Americans express
concern about their physical safety when attending these events.
But what may surprise observers is that they also report similar
levels of concern about the security of the personal data they
carry around on their mobile devices in public," said Unisys Chief
Trust Officer Tom Patterson. "This
underscores the need for governments to work with industry to
provide innovative ways to protect the devices that are becoming
inseparable from people in public spaces."
2019 Unisys Security Index: Concern Increases Slightly Over
Already-High 2018 Levels
The 2019 Unisys Security Index
surveyed more than 13,000 consumers in 13 countries, including more
than 1,000 in the U.S., in February and March 2019 with additional supplemental research
in April 2019. Unisys Corporation
(NYSE: UIS) gauged their attitudes on a wide range of
security-related issues and created an index based on their
feedback. The index is a calculated score from zero to 300 based on
concern about eight specific issues within the categories of
national, financial, internet and personal security.
The new survey shows the U.S. score remaining at its
second-highest level since the survey began 11 years ago. The index
reached its highest level in 2017 but dropped slightly the
following year and increased slightly this year. On a scale of zero
to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of concern, the
U.S. index is now at 165, considered a serious level of concern and
the highest among the seven developed* countries surveyed.
The survey also found that security concerns in all countries
are higher among younger people and those with lower incomes. In
the U.S., the survey found 29% greater concern among 18 to
24-year-olds than respondents ages 55 to 65. U.S. respondents with
lower incomes reported 24% more concern than higher-income
respondents.
More specifically, survey respondents expressed the highest
concerns around the subjects of identity theft (part of the
personal security category), with 63% saying they are "very or
extremely concerned;" bankcard fraud, with 58% saying they are
"very or extremely concerned;" and national security with regard to
war or terrorism, also with 58% saying they are "very or extremely
concerned."
"The 2019 Unisys Security Index shows that security concerns
remain high in the U.S., a condition that has now extended to
leisure time activities such as travel and attending sporting
events or music festivals," said Patterson. "These concerns relate
to physical security but are just as high when it comes to online
personal data security. Many consumers believe biometric-based
technologies can help, but government and private companies that
hold this data have to do more to convince them their data – and
identities – will remain safe and secure."
For more results and information on the 2019 Unisys Security
Index and to download a report on the U.S. survey results, visit
www.unisys.com/unisys-security-index/us. To view and download a
video on the U.S. survey results,
visit vimeo.com/showcase/6048966.
*The Unisys Security Index defines a "developed" country as
one in which the gross domestic product per capita is measured at
$12,000 or more.
About the Unisys Security Index
Unisys has conducted
the Unisys Security Index – the longest-running snapshot of
consumer security concerns conducted globally – since 2007 to
provide an ongoing, statistically-robust measure of concern about
security. The index is a calculated score out of 300 covering
changing consumer attitudes over time across eight areas of
security in four categories: national security and
disaster/epidemic, in the National Security category; bankcard
fraud and financial obligations, in the Financial Security
category; viruses/hacking and online transactions, in the Internet
Security category; and identity theft and personal safety, in the
Personal Security category. The 2019 Unisys Security Index is based
on online surveys conducted February
27-March 22, 2019 of nationally representative samples of at
least 1,000 adults in each of the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Philippines, the
U.K. and the U.S. The margin of error at a country level is +/-3.1%
at 95% confidence level, and +/-0.9% at a global level.
About Unisys
Unisys is a global information technology
company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions
for the most demanding businesses and governments on Earth. Unisys
offerings include security software and services; digital
transformation and workplace services; industry applications and
services; and innovative software operating environments for
high-intensity enterprise computing. For more information on how
Unisys builds better outcomes securely for its clients across the
Government, Financial Services and Commercial markets, visit
www.unisys.com.
Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn.
RELEASE NO.: 0612/9685
Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein,
as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product
referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered
trademark of its respective holder.
UIS-C
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-than-one-in-five-americans-have-cancelled-or-considered-cancelling-plans-to-attend-large-scale-sporting-events-and-concert-festivals-due-to-concerns-about-their-physical-and-cyber-safety----new-unisys-security-index-300864746.html
SOURCE Unisys Corporation