Security Concerns in Australia Growing as Worries About Internet, National and Financial Security Increase – Unisys Security IndexAustralians overwhelmingly support fingerprint and other biometric technology to protect private information, as online fears and identity theft worries increase
Sydney, 21, October 2009 - The majority of Australians say they are happy to use their fingerprint to prove their identity as concerns about Internet Security grow dramatically.
The results are from new research released as part of the Unisys Security Index™ which shows that security concerns about viruses and shopping or banking online have increased significantly.
The Australian Unisys Security Index for October 2009 stands at 123 out of a maximum of 300, up 8 points since April 2009, with all four indices recording an increase in concern:
Against this background, additional research released as part of the Unisys Security Index shows almost 7 out of 10 Australians are happy to use biometrics including fingerprints and iris scans to prove their identity.
The Unisys Security Index ended 2009 at a significantly higher level than the same time last year; up 22 points over 12 months.
The key factor driving the Unisys Security Index higher in October 2009 was a 15 point increase in the Internet Security Index.
“Concerns about a range of security issues are starting to grow including computer security in relation to viruses and unsolicited emails, and the security of shopping and / or banking online,” said Allen Koehn, Vice President, Public Sector, Unisys Asia Pacific.
“The top two security concerns for Australians are both identity fraud related with 59% of Australians either extremely or very concerned about other people obtaining and using their credit card and/or debit card details.
“The second highest concern relates to the loss or misuse of personal information with 58 percent of Australians either extremely or very concerned about this issue.
“These are very high levels of concern, so it is perhaps not surprising that Australians are so keen to use sophisticated biometric technology as a means of increasing protection against identity fraud and related crime.
“Our additional research shows almost 7 out of 10 or 66 percent of Australians are willing to use a biometric for identity authentication. Of those people:
“These are very strong results and show Australians are ready for the next roll out of biometric identification technology where it has obvious benefits for the protection of private and personal information,” said Mr. Koehn.
About the Unisys Security Index
The Unisys Security Index provides a unique insight into the attitudes of Australians on a wide range of security related issues. Developed in conjunction with market research firm Newspoll the Unisys Security Index provides a regular, statistically robust measure gauging levels of concern about various aspects of security. The survey on which the latest Australian Unisys Security Index is based, was conducted nationally between 4-6 September 2009 and 28 September – 1 October 2009 by Newspoll using a nationally representative sample of 1,202 respondents aged 18 years and over. All results have been post-weighted to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The study measures consumer perceptions on a scale of zero to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of perceived concern. For more information on the Unisys Security Index including additional resource material visit: www.unisyssecurityindex.com.au
Unisys on Security
Organisations and governments today confront potential security threats that didn’t exist a decade ago. A nation's sense of security is an important indicator of political, economic and consumer forces and their interdependence. Security threats are global and their effects impact individuals on a daily basis. The Unisys approach to security goes beyond ‘bits and bytes’ recognising that the most effective solutions are going to be those formed through collaboration across interests. For more information on Unisys security offerings visit: www.unisys.com.au/services/security/index.htm
About Unisys Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific, Unisys delivers services and solutions through subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan and through distributors or resellers in other countries in the region. For more information, visit www.unisys.com. Follow us on www.twitter.com/UnisysAPAC.
About Unisys
Unisys is a worldwide information technology company. We provide a portfolio of IT services, software, and technology that solves critical problems for clients. We specialize in helping clients secure their operations, increase the efficiency and utilization of their data centers, enhance support to their end users and constituents, and modernize their enterprise applications. To provide these services and solutions, we bring together offerings and capabilities in outsourcing services, systems integration and consulting services, infrastructure services, maintenance services, and high-end server technology. With more than 26,000 employees, Unisys serves commercial organizations and government agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.unisys.com
Contacts
Julian Brophy, Perception Partners, + 61 408 276 749
Claire Hosegood, Unisys, + 61 411 253 663
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