Commentary

44% Expect Personal Data Security Breach at Retail, 24% at Banks

The security of personal data is at or near the top of the list of just about every shopping study that asks about consumer concerns around mobile shopping.

And now a study focused only on security shows why retailers should take consumers’ fears to heart.

Almost half (44%) of consumers say they expect a breach at retail and only 19% said it was unlikely, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by Lieberman Research Group for Unisys, comprised a survey of 1,000 adults weighted according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Consumers were asked how likely their personal information will be accessed by an unauthorized person either accidentally or deliberately within the next 12 months, and more people selected retail than any other type of organization.  Here’s where U.S. consumers see the risk:

  • 44% -- Retail
  • 39% -- Government
  • 35% -- Telecom
  • 28% -- Healthcare
  • 25% -- Airlines
  • 24% -- Banks
  • 21% -- Utilities

While retailers may have some work to do in the area of consumer confidence, banks are on the other side, with only one in four expecting a security breach there.

From a mobile commerce standpoint, banks may be in the driver’s seat, at least concerning security.

This provides them a potential opportunity to be perceived as the trusted mobile payments provider, with 44% seeing a breach as unlikely, almost two times more than see it as likely.

Without both the perception and reality of security, mobile commerce will hit a ceiling.

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