Consumers May Seek More Anonymity Due to Cybersecurity Concerns, Says IDC

Consumers 18-35 are more concerned about their personally identifiable information (PII) than those 36-50, IDC reported Tuesday. Overall, 84 percent of U.S. consumers surveyed expressed concern about their PII security, and 70 percent said they're more concerned than a few years ago. Growing sensitivity to data exposure has consumers “on the verge of making serious changes in their behavior,” said IDC. As technology becomes more integrated in people’s lives, and businesses and governments leverage data to provide services or sell products, individuals can feel "overly connected and may yearn for greater anonymity,” said analyst Sean Pike. “Consumers can exact punishment for data breaches or mishandled data by changing buyer behavior or shifting loyalty.” Executives need to understand the risk their organizations assume when collecting consumer PII, “but also the potential security and compliance solutions available to help manage the collection, processing, and use of sensitive data," he said.