Online retailers come bottom in data security survey

UK consumers are worried about current data loss prevention measures

UK consumers are wary about how businesses manage personal data security and confidence is lowest when it comes to online retailers, according to a survey commissioned by Symantec and carried out by market research firm Emnid.

Some 1,000 adults were surveyed about their confidence in data-security standards using a scale of one to six – with six being the lowest. The survey found that banking had the highest score, with 72 per cent giving the sector a rating of 3 or above while online retail scored an average of 3.2.

Other sectors such as "traditional" retail, telecoms, transport and the public sector were given scores between the banking and web retailers.

According to the study, an identical survey conducted in Germany showed a confidence level in banking of 3.2, online retailers 4.4, and public sector 3.1 - the highest rating.

“These results show a general concern about the safety of personal data held by private and public-sector organisations in the UK,” said senior product marketing manager for data loss prevention at Symantec, Chi-Chi Liang.

“What the recent data scandals have shown is that even the unconscious mis-use of data by people employed within a company can have devastating results,” said Liang.

“The comparison with Germany merely underlines that businesses and public sector bodies in both countries have some way to go to convince the public that personal data is safe in their hands. The task for organisations in both countries is to win back customer confidence by reassuring them that world-class data loss prevention measures are in place.”