Cisco points to connectivity as a top cyber threat factor | IT strategy ...

Security risks in businesses are also on the rise because many employees adopt "my way" work lifestyles in which their devices, work and online behavior mix with their personal lives virtually anywhere - in the office, at home and everywhere in between, finds the Cisco Annual 2013 Security Report.

The increasing level of security threats has not gone unnoticed among consumers in the Middle East region. Further research by Cisco in the Middle East revealed that a third of consumers in the region are concerned about the vulnerability of their online information and personal data as well as the possibility of identity theft.

As a result, 50% of respondents prefer that their online browsing is kept strictly private and have high expectations that websites will keep their information confidential. However, there are concerns that in today's internet era, the age of privacy is over. Over three quarters of respondent's fear that they are no longer in control of their data online and are worried about how much personal data is being captured and how it is stored.

"Each year, the security threats and defences evolve and change and the Cisco Annual Security Report is our expert research, highlighting global threat patterns and trend," says Rabih Dabboussi, Managing Director of Cisco UAE.

"Today, we live a blended work-personal life. The hackers know this, and the security threats that we encounter online such as embedded Web malware while visiting popular destinations like search engines, retailers, social media sites and smartphone/tablet apps no longer threaten only the individual; they threaten our organizations by default. This year's ASR, coupled with our Middle East survey, highlights this and other trends while providing the hard data, and ideas, for how we should be approaching security today and in the future," he explains.

The survey of 150 internet users across the region also revealed that:
? 76% of respondents in the Middle East maintain 5 to 9 passwords, as opposed to 29% globally.
? Almost half (42%) of Middle East respondents' "online identity" differs from their "offline identity". Globally this was 39%.
? More than half of Middle East respondents have multiple online identities (55%) as opposed to 44% globally.
? In the Middle East 50% of respondents said they do not want their online browsing to be tracked. Globally, 40% of respondents agreed with this.
? Just over half of respondents in the Middle East trust very few sites to keep their information private and secure (51%). Global respondents were less trusting with 49% distrusting most sites security.
? Almost three quarters of respondents in the Middle East are worried that their personal information is no longer private (73%). This concern was not felt as widely on a global scale with 54% of respondents worried about their personal information online.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/cisco-connectivity-contributing-threat-factor-344178

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