Surveying 1,000 consumers across the US and UK, the findings show that over half of Brits now own at least one internet-connected device, with wearable fitness trackers (24%), vehicles (18%) and smartwatches (16%) being the most common.
Consumer Considerations
When asked to identify internet-connected devices which were most vulnerable to hacking, cars with integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth technology came second only to home security cameras and video-enabled doorbells. 60% of respondents felt that connected cars posed security concerns. Integrity and malfunctions of connected car technology topped the list of apprehensions. Over 50% expressed concerns around viruses or malware and almost 40% claimed data security features would be the most important thing to consider when purchasing a connected vehicle. To combat these concerns, an overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) felt the government should implement stricter data security regulations for connected cars.
John Grimm, senior directory security strategy, Thales eSecurity says:
“As adoption of connected cars and development of autonomous, self-driving cars soars, there is a tremendous business opportunity for automakers. However, with more connectivity comes new pathways for cyberattacks and our research shows that 60% of UK respondents are more concerned about the security of connected cars now vs. 5 years ago. While we’re starting to see IoT and connected car regulatory frameworks in the UK, manufacturers across the world should proactively consider these consumer concerns as they get ready to bring these cars to our streets instead of waiting for laws and regulations to pass.”
Cars Aren’t the Only Concern
When it comes to concerns about potential breaches, 65% of UK consumers believe devices like home security cameras and video doorbells are internet-connected technologies that are also extremely vulnerable. Those seen as least vulnerable are connected lightbulbs, such as Philips Hue, with only 10% of respondents viewing them as a threat. Other devices considered to be at risk of security issues include virtual personal assistants, such as Amazon Echo (54%), smartwatches, such as the Apple watch (35%), and medical monitoring devices, such as glucose meter remotes (23%).
Methodology
This survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 nationally representative adults ages 18 and older in the U.S. and U.K., between August 31st and 7th September, 2017, using an email invitation and an online poll. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.
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