Consumers Value Data Privacy but Don’t Feel Secure
Though 90 percent of consumers say protecting their personal data is a top priority, few of them are confident they’re doing enough, according to new data from Clutch Research.
More than half (57 percent) say their personal information has been compromised at least once, highlighting a growing gap between concern and confidence as cyber threats increase.
Financial information is consumers’ top concern (88 percent), followed by login credentials (72 percent), health data (46 percent), and contact information (43 percent), yet guidance remains fragmented across apps and platforms.
“Consumers care about data security, but confusing tools often delay protective actions,” said Hannah Hicklen, a Clutch analyst.
The data also showed that 75 percent of those who experienced a breach changed their behavior, compared to 36 percent of those who haven’t experienced a breach, showing many act only after a breach has occurred.
Consumers also worry most about identity theft (40 percent) and financial fraud (38 percent), yet company breaches remain the leading cause of data exposure (30 percent), according to Clutch.
“Breaches still dominate, even with all the security spending, because attackers have gotten faster and more automated, while many organizations are still struggling with fundamentals like identity security, visibility across systems, and quick response,” says Evan Kirstel, a B2B thought leader and technology influencer.
Clutch also warns that these risks shape buying behavior, with 77 percent of consumers saying that data privacy policies influence their purchases, and 88 percent saying they would stop using a company if their data wasn’t secure.
Still, while 72 percent of consumers use strong or unique passwords and 65 percent enable multi-factor authentication, far fewer regularly review privacy and security settings (28 percent) or limit app permissions (29 percent), leaving unnecessary exposure as data collection and personalization continue to expand.