Tech giant Googleis preparing to launch a security roadshow in the United Kingdom, following the shocking revelation that more than a quarter of users in the country have either been targeted for hacking or have already fallen victim to a hacking attack in the last two years.
Starting on August 7, the traveling exhibition will cover five British cities and over 30 schools , and Google security experts will host free seminars and discussions on how to defeat hackers.
Such advisory actions are worth the effort: A recent survey by the company revealed that 27% of 2,000 respondents had experienced a breach of one of their services, such as an email account, an online banking account, or had been targeted for one in the past two years alone. Also, just over a third feared that their personal data, such as passwords, bank account details or emails, could be stolen by hackers and used without their permission.
Also worrying is the fact that a quarter of respondents admitted that they do not have any kind of security, such as a 4-digit code, a pattern lock, fingerprint scanning, etc. to secure their mobile phone, despite the ever-increasing amount of important information now shared and stored on smartphones. A tenth also said that their personal data had been used online without their permission.
“ With the significant increase in phishing, identity theft and consumer data breaches, it is now more important than ever for people to understand how to best protect themselves,” said Raj Samani , CTO EMEA at Intel Security , who is participating in the program.
“Just last year, Intel Security found that 57% of UK consumers do not feel it is their responsibility to protect their devices, confirming that work and education are needed in this area. Simple measures such as understanding what makes a secure password and how to recognise a phishing email can help users of all ages use technology safely. With proper education, preparation and implementation of security measures, we hope to see a decline in successful hacking attacks in the future.”.
