How common are consumer data breaches?
A new survey reveals consumer data is at substantial risk of cyberattacks.
More than seven-in-10 (71%) respondents have made a mistake in safeguarding their personal data in the past year, according to the survey of roughly 2,500 U.S. adults from digital review/analysis site CNET.
In addition, almost half (47%) have had their personal data compromised and more than one in five (22%) don’t know if their data has ever been compromised in a data breach.
Furthermore, two-in-three (66%) respondents are concerned about falling victim to some sort of scam. Despite this high level of concern, 16% of respondents are not taking any steps to safeguard their personal data during this holiday season.
[READ MORE: How online shoppers are targeted by – and respond to – scams]
The exposure to data breaches differs among generations, with Gen X and boomer respondents (54%) being affected the most. Almost half (46%) of millennial respondents have also experienced their data being compromised, compared to only one in four (25%) Gen Z.
The study also revealed that as many as four-in-10 respondents have engaged in the following risky personal cybersecurity behavior:
- Reused a password on multiple accounts (41%).
- Saved payment info on a personal phone or computer to make shopping easier (41%).
- Save a password on a personal phone or computer (not through a password manager or within a mobile browser – 40%).
- Opted out of two-factor authentication for some or all online accounts.
Post-breach consumer response
The primary steps respondents took due to their data being compromised were changing their password/s (68%), enrolling in two-factor authentication for online accounts (41%), placing a fraud alert on their credit reports (35%), and signing up for identity theft protection (33%).
On the other hand, freezing credit reports (27%), stopping the service that was compromised (20%), purchasing antivirus software (16%), and using a virtual private network (VPN - 14%) are some of the less common actions respondents have taken following the compromise of data in a breach.
Interestingly, 6% did nothing following their personal data being leaked in a breach. Close to half (47%) of respondents confirmed receiving a notice in the mail after their data was compromised.
Protecting data for the holiday season
The most popular methods respondents are using to protect their data during the holiday shopping season include only buying from reputable sites and marketplaces (48%), making purchases through official store apps on phones (43%), strengthening password hygiene (37%), and checking the site’s security before making a purchase (31%).
Other, less popular methods include using a digital wallet (24%), doing all shopping in person (17%), and using a virtual credit card (16%).
Consumers worry about scams
Two-in-three (66%) respondents express concern about falling victim to some form of scam. The most concerning scams cited include non-delivery package scams (25%), customer support scams (20%), peer-to-peer payment app scams (18%), gift card draining scams (17%) and charity scams (16%).
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey of 2,518 U.S. adults. Fieldwork was undertaken online Nov. 4-7, 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults aged 18 and up.
