A survey of over 2,300 US adults found that nearly half reported being notified that their personally identifiable information (PII) was stolen. While 84% of victims were offered identity protection services after a breach, over half did not enroll. Younger respondents were more likely than older generations to consider offering such services a sufficient response to a data breach. Overall, many respondents felt unprotected by companies, employers, and the government when it comes to protecting their PII and responding to cybercrimes.

1. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.© 2019 4iQ.com. All rights reserved.
2019 Identity Protection and Data Breaches Survey
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2. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.© 2019 4iQ.com. All rights reserved.
4iQ recently surveyed over 2,300 U.S. adults on their
perceptions of data breaches and how they are personally
impacted, what kind of assistance they received in its
wake, and how prepared they are at protecting their own
personally identifiable information (PII).
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3. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
STOLEN PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)?
Nearly half of
respondents have been
notified that their PII was
stolen.
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OFFER & ENROLLMENT IN IDENTITY PROTECTION SERVICES
Among the victims, 84% were
offered identity protection
services.
More than half did not enroll in
credit monitoring services
offered by companies.
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5. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
IDENTITY PROTECTION SERVICES STICKINESS
38% respondents canceled
identity theft protection
services.
Out of which, 42% did not
see the value in continuing
credit monitoring services
after a breach.
5
11%
6%
42%
16%
13%
12%

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IS ID PROTECTION SERVICES A SUFFICIENT RESPONSE?
Audiences are split on
whether offering data
protection services is a
sufficient response to loss
of PII.
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7. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
However, younger
respondents
consider the offer
of Identity
Protection Services
a sufficient
response to a data
breach.
POST-MILLENNIALS
& MILLENNIALS
GENERATION X
BABY-BOOMERS
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ID PROTECTION SERVICES, A SUFFICIENT RESPONSE BY AGE

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ARE YOU EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING YOUR PII
70% believe they
are effective or
very effective at
protecting their PII.
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VICTIM OF FRAUD?
37% of individuals believe
they have been a victim of
fraud as a result of a
cybercrime incident
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PII IN THE HANDS OF CYBER CRIMINALS?
55% of respondents thinks
it’s likely that their PII is in
the “Hands of Criminals”
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CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE FRAUD
63% of respondents are concerned that their identity could be used by someone
to commit fraud.
4% 33 % 46 % 17 %
Not at all concerned Not very concerned Concerned Very concerned
How *concerned* are you that your identity could be used by someone else to commit fraud
by leveraging your PII?
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SECURITY ERRORS AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS
More than half said they would expect their own online security error to
negatively or very negatively affect their standing with their employer.
Some - 28%
High - 24%
Very High - 23%
What level of impact upon your employment would you
expect from your employer if a mistake you make with
online security (i.e. password reuse, clicking on suspicious
links, downloading malware) creates a
pathway to access your employer’s systems?
No - 25%
IMPACT
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13. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR EMPLOYER AT PROTECTING YOUR PII?
74% believe their
employers are effective or
very effective at protecting
their PII.
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LEVEL OF EMPLOYER’S RESPONSE
Over half of the
respondents believe their
employers’ would have a
significant response.
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LEVELS DESCRIPTION
Significant
Security upgrades, proactive communications, identity
protection services offered.
Medium Security upgrades, proactive communications.
Low Minimal communications, security upgrades
Very Low
Reactive-only communications, no significant security
upgrades

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STANDARD EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS?
58% believe standard
employment background
checks should also check
for whether employees’
personally identifiable
information has been stolen
prior.
15
%

16. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
“BLAME THE VICTIM” IN CYBERCRIME
60% of respondents believe there’s a “blame-the-victim”
problem with cybercrime.
No - 25%
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CURRENT LAWS INCLINATION WITH CYBERCRIME
71% of respondents
think the current laws
favor employers more
than employees.No - 25%
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GOVERNMENT PROTECTING YOUR PII
Only 42% respondents
believe government is
effective or very effective
at protecting their PII.
18
51%

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LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Over half of the
respondents expect
significant response from
government.
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LEVELS DESCRIPTION
Significant
Security upgrades, proactive communications, identity
protection services offered.
Medium Security upgrades, proactive communications.
Low Minimal communications, security upgrades
Very Low
Reactive-only communications, no significant security
upgrades

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SURVEY AUDIENCE WORK INDUSTRIES
No - 25%
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SURVEY AUDIENCE AGE
No - 25%
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SURVEY AUDIENCE REGION
No - 25%
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SURVEY AUDIENCE GENDER
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24. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.
ABOUT SURVEY
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Results are based on a survey conducted through the use of an online research platform. The survey was
administered to 2,300 U.S. Adults 18+ in August 2019. Results were weighted for age within gender,
region, race/ethnicity, education, and income, where necessary to align them with their actual
proportions in the population.
info@4iq.com

25. © 2019 4iQ.com All rights reserved.© 2019 4iQ.com. All rights reserved.
IDTheft™ IDHunt
Identity Theft Protection Identity Intelligence &
Attribution Analysis.
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4iQ IDLake™ is the world’s largest repository of
curated, breached identity records.
www.4iq.com