UK public willing to accept inconvenience for security
Unisys research suggests airport security, fighting ID crime and financial fear should be a priority for a new government
• Study shows airport security is top of mind – 90% of the UK public would be willing to use the full electronic body scanners to ensure a safe passage
• Identity crime is our biggest concern – 87% of the public are worried about falling victim to ID theft
• Financial fear – more than half (55%) of the population are concerned that they won't be able to meet their essential financial obligations.
With the general election just weeks away, the major political parties should take note that consumer fear is on the rise. According to the latest Unisys Security Index published today, UK public concern is up across the board, in terms of financial, national, Internet and personal safety.
The Unisys Security Index tracks consumer security concerns every six months and yields valuable insights into the issues that matter to people today. For instance, the aviation industry's response to the Christmas Day bomber seemed to have struck a chord with the electorate with 90 per cent of the UK public responding that they would be willing to undergo full electronic body scans to ensure a safe passage.
The average score of 127 for the current Unisys Security Index for the UK is up 12 points from October 2009 and indicates a growing level of overall security concern.
Aviation security
Following the foiled Christmas Day bomb attempt, airport security has been top of mind. This is corroborated by the Unisys Security Index, which shows that UK consumers now put security above convenience and privacy concerns. According to the survey, 90 per cent of the UK public would be willing to use full electronic body scans at airports and 91 per cent would be willing to readily submit biometric data such as iris scans and fingerprints to identify them when travelling by air.
Neil Fisher, vice president of global security solutions at Unisys, said, "With the British Airports Authority (BAA) also reporting positive responses to the full body scanners, it appears that the early controversy surrounding the technology has died down and people are taking a pragmatic approach to their safety. The question is has the country done enough to subvert another terrorist plot? What we have done so far is react to threats as they occur, rather than take a holistic view of the threat."
ID crime is our biggest fear
Fighting crime has always been a vote winner but in this digital age, it's not just about more bobbies on the beat. According to the Unisys Security Index, 87 per cent of people are worried about unauthorised access to their personal information and the same proportion is worried about other people obtaining or using their credit or debit card details, (including 59% of the public who are seriously concerned).
However, the survey findings also reveal a dangerous discrepancy. While consumers are most afraid of ID theft, they are least concerned about internet security.
"There's an interesting paradox here. While the UK public are rightly concerned about identity theft, they don't yet appreciate how their internet footprint can be used against them," Fisher said. "This failure to connect the dots leaves them even more vulnerable to ever-sophisticated cyber criminals. People shouldn't forget that every time they update their profiles on Facebook or enter their bank details online, they could be giving away vital information. Precautions must be taken every step of the way."
Financial fear
According to the Unisys Security Index, over half (55 per cent) of the UK public are worried about their ability to make payments on their mortgages, credit cards and loans. Nearly one third (29 per cent) are seriously concerned. The report also finds that 25-34 year old professionals in the South of England are more acutely concerned than other demographic groups. Females are more worried than males.
Paul Mullins, Chief Executive, National Debtline, said, "This report further confirms that people are worried about falling into debt. National Debtline helped 150,000 people with debt issues in 2009, and demand has remained high in the early part of 2010. With the country still reeling from recession, it has never been more important to keep control of your finances. We urge people struggling with debt to seek free, independent advice from an organisation such as National Debtline or Citizens Advice – the earlier you do so, the more options you are likely to have."
Additional key global findings from the latest Unisys Security Index include:
• UK citizens are most accepting of electronic body scans at airports, followed by the Dutch public (81%) and then the Australians (70%). By contrast, one in three people in Germany and Belgium would object
• Americans are most worried about national security (65% are extremely or very concerned) and identity theft (64% are seriously concerned)
• Nearly half (42 per cent) of European respondents are concerned about their personal information falling into the wrong hands
• Security concerns were highest in Brazil, which reported an overall index score of 177. The Netherlands reported the lowest level of concern with an overall score of 70
