Interviews

UK cyber map

by Mark Rowe

A cybersecurity ‘map’ of the UK is showing that near half, 48 per cent of people in the UK are concerned that their identity will be stolen. The same proportion worries that their bank details will be stolen.

The research, from financial technology company Intelligent Environments, indicates that consumers’ concerns are well founded, finding that one in five Brits (20 per cent) have fallen victim to cyber-crime. This includes having their identity, money or bank details stolen. Londoners are the most likely to have been victims of cyber-crime, with as many as 27 per cent saying they’ve been affected, while Norwich citizens are the second most likely at 23 per cent. The research detailed in Intelligent Environments’ map includes:

· Birmingham is Britain’s city most concerned with cyber-security, with 57 per cent of residents worried about their online banking details being stolen, and 59 per cent concerned about becoming victim to identity theft
· Newcastle is second, with 52 per cent of residents concerned about online banking details being stolen, and Edinburgh is third with 50 per cent
· Cardiff residents are most relaxed, but it’s still a major issue as 43 per cent of people expressed concerns about online banking details being stolen
· Concerns about security are also holding customers back from using digital banking apps and online services – 22 per cent don’t trust digital banking apps, and 12 per cent don’t trust online banking
· Seven per cent of UK banking customers also said they don’t use digital banking as they have previously been a victim of cybercrime

One in five, 19 per cent of Brits said they have a limited understanding of how to stay safe online, and more than a quarter (30 per cent) said they would like their bank to offer them more advice on how to stay safe online.

David Webber, Managing Director of Intelligent Environments, said: “People are more on edge these days, and with good reason. High profile hacking attacks on organisations like Ashley Madison, Bitdefender and TalkTalk as recently as six months ago have put the issues at the top of people’s minds, and as a result they are rightfully concerned about their security online. Of course, banking data is always going to be a primary concern as it’s particularly attractive to hackers. We’re therefore calling on banks to play a more active role in educating customers on how best to keep themselves and their financial information safe while they’re online.

“Introducing biometric security measures, offering advice on what to watch out for when making online purchases and helping customers better understand what do when things go wrong go a long way toward helping people be more aware of cybersecurity, without getting in the way of a great user experience. Finding that balance between the two is the key for financial service businesses, and the route to a better, more secure service.”

Case study

Katie Stedman is a student working for an energy firm in London, and has been a victim of cybercrime. She said: “I had my identity stolen last year by cybercriminals. First they got into my Paypal, and made large purchases from Harrods. Then my Addison Lee account was hacked, and they made five separate stops around London. Next was my Amazon account, where someone had ordered an iPhone 6 to my home address. Unfortunately, Amazon was unable to prevent the delivery, so I had to accept the iPhone before it could be intercepted. They also got into my Deliveroo account, and must have been very hungry as they made four orders back-to-back in one day!

“Overall the criminals managed to incur about £900 of costs on my accounts, though I was able to get my money back directly from all the companies involved. But it was a stressful experience, and it has changed how I think about online security. Before this happened, I had one password for most of the sites I used. This experience has definitely changed my attitude to online security. I now check my bank account daily to ensure I am keeping track of all my purchases and to spot any unusual ones. I never save my card details online anymore, and I have gone through all my regular sites and changed all my passwords to more complex ones, and will change every six months or so.”

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