A third of consumers would sell their private data to a total stranger

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Reckless data is leaving consumers exposed to more than they bargained for, according to new research from Kaspersky Lab. Despite outrage and worry around high profile data sharing scandals, including when Facebook gave Netflix and Spotify the ability to delete users' private messages, over half of internet users (56%) feel that complete privacy in the modern digital world is impossible.

Recent cases such as tweets posted by Kevin Hart, show how the data you willingly share online could damage your reputations and career. For the 'person on the street', it is also becoming more common for employers and potential employers to scour social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, to check that staff and candidates are reputable. Figures from Career Builder suggest that 57% of employers have found content on social media that caused them not to hire a candidate, and a third (34%) have reprimanded or fired an existing employee due to online content.

Kaspersky Lab's research found that over a quarter (26%) of people have had their private data accessed by someone without their consent -- rising to almost a third (31%) amongst 16-24 year olds. The consequences of this were wide and varied with more than a third (36%) feeling stressed as a result. This rises to 42% amongst 16-24 year olds; one in five (21%) have experienced monetary loss; while a quarter (25%) were disturbed by spam and adverts.

Noushin Shabab at INTERPOL World, Singapore, 2017.

Kaspersky Lab, Senior Security Researcher, Noushin Shabab says, "Data privacy is and should be achievable by everyone. Secrets can stay safe and data loss should not be an expectation but an exception to transacting online. A combined solution of security products and practical steps can minimise the threats and keep your data safe online."

To help keep your online world private and stop you from falling victim to data misuse, there are two simple steps to follow:

• Think twice before you post on social media channels. Could there be wider consequences of making your views or information public?
• Only download legitimate applications to store and protect your sensitive data -- such as Kaspersky Password Manager -- so this information remains secure from potential threats.

Further information on how Kaspersky Lab solutions can safeguard your data and online persona visit www.kaspersky.com.au.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190327/2415643-1