Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers, has announced the results of new research which reveals that one-in-five (22%) consumers in Ireland are purchasing fewer items online because they fear cyberattacks. For the same reason, 19% say they have started to pay in-person, in cash, when they can.
The research, commissioned by Ekco and carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 1,000 adults in the Republic of Ireland, exploring their attitudes to online spending as the volume of cyberattacks and scams continues to rise. It comes at a time when major fashion retailers are considering a return to the high street after declining footfall, exacerbated by the pandemic, drove both shoppers and retailers online. The research suggests that cyber fears could drive more to physical stores this festive season.
Despite year-on-year growth in online spending, just 30% of those surveyed believe they know how to check if a retailer’s website is safe or not. In fact, in the last 12 months, more than one-in-10 (14%) have entered their payment details on a fraudulent website, thinking it was legitimate, while 26% have found themselves on a fake website which was attempting to mirror a real one.
Ekco’s research suggests that the constant desire for convenience could be making consumers less focused on security. When offered, 31% opt to store payment details on websites to save time during the check-out process, and the same percentage have payment details stored on multiple websites.
However, many consumers are unforgiving when retailers suffer a cyberattack. In the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) of consumers have avoided purchasing from, or using the services of, a retailer because it suffered a cyberattack. Two-thirds (66%) say they would stop shopping with a retailer permanently if their data was stolen in a breach, even if no money was taken.
Conor Scolard, Director of Cyber Resilience at Ekco, said: “Our research shows that while consumers want a hassle-free shopping experience – with conveniences such as having their payment details stored – they are also concerned about the security of their information. It is vital that retailers have the robust infrastructure in place that enables them to assure customers that their data is safe, regardless of how they choose to pay: in-person in cash, or online (with or without stored card details).
“As we have entered the busiest time of the year for shopping, retailers need to ensure that their systems can both stay onlineand protect customers’ data from cyberattacks. Our research highlights that a cyberattack will not only have a negative impact on operations, but it can also cause lasting damage to a business’s reputation. In addition, shoppers evidently lack confidence in identifying safe websites from compromised or fraudulent ones, which will undoubtedly lead to hesitation. The retail sector must consider this and its own role in providing convenience and confidence.”
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