Australians Want to Use More Sophisticated Identity Measures Including Fingerprints and Iris Scans – Unisys Security Index1 in 3 Australians seriously concerned about the ability of governments and financial service providers to protect their personal data
Sydney, 21, October 2009 - One third of Australians say they hold heightened concerns about the ability of financial service providers and governments to protect their personal information.
At the same time, Australians indicate that they are ready to take the next step in even more secure identity management, with the majority supporting the use of biometrics including fingerprint and iris scans.
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 good news is that 7 out of 10 Australians are confident in the ability of their financial service provider or government to protect their personal information,” said Allen Koehn, Vice President, Public Sector, Unisys Asia Pacific.
“What is of concern is the fact that a significant number of Australians hold high level worries about the capacity of those organisations to protect information given to them:
“It is clear that the assurances given in response to fears, real or perceived, about the security of personal data are not having an impact on a sizeable number of Australians.
“Yet in a clear sign that Australians are willing to be part of the solution when it comes to tackling identity theft and related crime, the majority of people say they are willing to use sophisticated biometric technology to prove their identity.
“Almost 7 out of 10 or 66 percent of Australians say that they are willing to use biometrics with many choosing innovative technology such as fingerprint and iris scans. Of those people:
“At the same time, more traditional forms of identity verification also received strong levels of support with:
“The public is sending an important message to governments and the private sector that they are willing and ready to use sophisticated technology in order to protect themselves against these types of threats,” 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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