More than half of the Dutch think it is impossible to guarantee data privacy. About one in three also believes that they have no control over their private data. Particularly in the workplace, employees do not like to reveal personal information.
That's according to the latest edition of the Unisys Security Index, the longest-running global survey of consumer concerns about security and privacy. The survey took place last year among more than 11,000 consumers from 11 countries, including 1,000 Dutch.
Due to the corona pandemic, more and more Dutch people are working away from home. This has a positive effect on traffic problems and emissions of nitrogen and particulate matter, but also has a downside. With great regularity we hear stories about cyber attacks, data leaks and DDoS attacks. More and more Dutch people are aware of and concerned about their online privacy. This is well reflected in the survey results.
Researchers asked respondents how they feel when asked to share personal data. The poll shows that the Dutch are very reluctant to do so. Three in ten respondents (29 percent) feel they have little or no control over their personal data. Consequently, this group is very concerned about their Internet security: they think there is a real chance that they will become victims of identity theft (38 percent), viruses and hacking attacks (38 percent).
Seven in 10 respondents (71 percent) say they are cautious when they receive an e-mail or text message from a stranger. Therefore, they do not just open any attachments or tap on URLs. So the Dutch say they are very cautious about suspicious messages. That's a good sign. At the same time, three-quarters (77 percent) say they have no idea which agencies and organizations to contact if they are unexpectedly the victim of phishing or sim swapping. You can find the answer to that question in our article "I've been hacked: now what?".
There are also privacy concerns in the workplace. Almost three-quarters of those surveyed (73 percent) do not like it when biometric data (such as a fingerprint) is stored for verification purposes in a central database at a commercial party. With the government or a bank, the percentages are just slightly lower, 65 percent and 64 percent, respectively. A majority of Dutch people (58 percent) prefer not to hand over a fingerprint, iris scan or facial profile to their boss, even if it is for verification purposes.
One in three respondents (33 percent) said they do not like it when they are remotely monitored by their employer, in any way, while working from home. So the lion's share of employees seem to be understanding. However, monitoring by software such as a keylogger goes a step too far for most (73 percent).
All in all, more than half of the Dutch (55 percent) think data privacy is a myth.
Jeroen Zonnenberg, Team Lead Security Consulting at Unisys, says this is no coincidence. "We live in an almost completely digitized world, so there is a direct link between personal security and Internet security. More and more people and organizations are experiencing hacks, viruses or ransomware attacks, where (personal) data is misused or stolen. In my opinion, it is therefore justified that concerns about this are rising."
This, according to Zonnenberg, has caused Dutch people's awareness of Internet security and online privacy to take off in recent years. He sees this as a positive trend and a first step in reducing the danger of digital threats. According to Zonnenberg, however, there is still a world to be won.
"There is a need for more transparency and information on this issue. Properly secured, centralized data storage reduces the chance of privacy breaches, ensures that data is stored in a less dispersed manner and reduces the chance of becoming a victim of hacking attacks. As an employer, it is therefore important to communicate openly and honestly about this and to equip staff with the right tools to provide them with a workplace that is both secure and allows for maximum productivity."
