[June 07, 2017] |
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New McAfee Study Reveals Consumers Prioritize Convenience Over Security While on Vacation
To help educate consumers as they prepare for summer vacation, McAfee (News - Alert)
conducted a study, "Digital Detox: Unwind, Relax and Unplug," to better
understand the behavior and attitudes of consumers when on vacation, and
how digital habits could be putting
their personal information at risk. The survey found that despite
the benefits experienced from unplugging, most individuals prefer to
stay connected. Fifty-two percent of U.S. respondents indicated that
they spend at least an hour a day using their connected devices to check
email, text and post to social media while on vacation.
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New McAfee Study Reveals Consumers Prioritize Convenience Over Security While on Vacation (Graphic: Business Wire)
The summer travel season can be a lot of fun for everyone, including
cybercriminals who may try to exploit travelers who are in unfamiliar
settings. When individuals put convenience over security, by using
unsecured Wi-Fi access points that are easily hackable for example, they
leave themselves open to the possibility of having their personal
information compromised.
"Our devices are extensions of ourselves that we rely on for more tasks
every day," said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at
McAfee. "Individuals must exercise caution when using their devices on
vacation. By taking basic security precautions and avoiding unnecessary
risks, consumers can better protect personal information making their
vacation more enjoyable knowing they are connecting with confidence."
The wide availability of Wi-Fi networks can make it difficult to unplug
and disconnect on vacation, but if consumers take that extra step and
unplug they can experience a more secure trip. While many individuals
did not intend to unplug while traveling, those that did (43%) reported
a much more enjoyable experience (81%).
Can't Put the Device Down:
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Thirty-eight percent could not last a day without checking their work
or personal email. More than a quarter (27%) admitted to checking their email consistently throughout the day.
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Thirty-seven percent could not resist the urge to post to social media
while vacationing.
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Laptops were the most common device left behind (72%), but only 27%
would be willing to leave their smartphone behind.
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The most common reason individuals avoid unplugging was to be
reachable by family and friends (62%).
Carefree Wi-Fi Usage
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Thirty-one percent of participants primarily connected using publicly
available Wi-Fi leaving them open to potential security risks.
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While 58% of participants claim they know how to determine whether
their Wi-Fi is secure, only 49% take the time to check their
connection.
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Twenty percent don't consider the security of their Wi-Fi connection,
and for 32% it depends on how much they need to connect to determine
if they will use the unsecured Wi-Fi.
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Remarkably, 15% of travelers considered their personal information and
data to be more secure while traveling than it is at home.
Work, Work, Work:
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Only 16% of participants claimed that they stayed connected to be
reachable by work, but if work were not a factor 57% would prefer to
stay unplugged.
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Sixty-nine percent of individuals in their 20s and 30s would prefer to
completely unplug on vacation compared with less than half of
individuals in their 40s (49%) if work were not a factor.
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While individuals in their 20s were the most willing to unplug, they
were also the group that experienced the most anxiety (52%) when they
did unplug.
Mom and Dad Know Best:
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Most parents think devices should take a backseat on vacation with 51%
planning to unplug compared with 35% of individuals without children.
Parents were only slightly more successful at abstaining from tech
with 82% declaring success compared with 78% of people without
children.
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Seventy-seven percent of parents allow their children to use connected
devices while traveling, and 73% of these parents claim to monitor
their child's usage.
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Parents tend to be more tech savvy than their non-parental
counterparts and are more likely to know if their Wi-Fi connection is
safe and secure to use (64% vs. 54%).
Tips to Help Secure Your Personal Information and Devices:
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Browse securely when away from home. Ensure that you are
connecting securely while traveling and avoid using public or
unsecured Wi-Fi networks. If you absolutely must connect to a public
Wi-Fi network, use a Virtual
Private Network (VPN) like McAfee
Safe Connect. A VPN will keep your information private and ensure
that data goes straight from your device to where you are connecting.
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Update your devices. The first line of defense for your devices
is you, so it's important to take a few precautions to stay safe. Make
sure your devices' operating system and applications are kept updated.
Using old versions of software could leave you open to potential
security vulnerabilities.
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Install cross-device security. After you've updated your
devices with the latest software install comprehensive security. A
solution like McAfee
LiveSafe can help your devices stay clear of viruses and other
unwanted malware.
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Use a device locating app. If you lose your connected device,
especially on vacation, it can be difficult to recover. Location
applications can help you find, lock and even erase your device's data
in the event of theft or loss.
Survey Methodology
In March 2017, McAfee commissioned MSI (News - Alert) International to conduct an
online study of 9,500 people who use a connected device daily in
Australia, France, Germany, U.K. and U.S. The survey included
individuals between 18-55 split evenly by gender.
About McAfee
McAfee is one of the world's leading independent cybersecurity
companies. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates
business and consumer solutions that make the world a safer place. www.mcafee.com.
McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks of McAfee LLC in the United
States and other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed
as the property of others.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170606006703/en/
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