NATIONAL SECURITY AND DATA SAFETY ARE TOP CONCERNS FOR THE UK

FINDINGS reveal how regions, sexes and ages differ over fears for national security, personal data safety, phishing and fraud.  Despite concerns over national security, economic uncertainty, use of our private details by fraudsters and the phenomenon of phishing, UK remains only ‘moderately’ worried about these issues as factors of every day life, the Unisys Security Index survey has revealed.

The survey, conducted in the summer of 2007 by Unisys, the worldwide technology services and solutions company, as part of the company’s ongoing study into perceived attitudes to security, reveals that fears of terrorist attack and the misuse of personal data are of most concern to Britons, with online fraud and phishing cited 3rd and 4th most worrying. When viewed as a whole however, the findings only rate the UK public as being ‘moderately’ concerned about all of these issues.

The Unisys Security Index is published 3 times a year and is a global research project designed to help businesses and governments understand consumer attitudes towards a range of issues related to financial, personal, internet and physical security. The 1st stage of the inaugural U.K. survey polled 952 consumers on how they feel about these key issues. The Security Index assesses security on a scale of 0 to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of perceived safety and security. The UK’s overall reading measured 138, indicating a moderate level of concern overall within the country. By topic, the highest point score was for Personal Security (149), followed by National Security (144) then Financial (141). Internet security was the only result under the average, at 118 points.

Following a period in the Summer of 2007 of heightened vigilance and high profile terrorist attacks and plots, the survey showed that 57% of respondents admitted to feeling either extremely or very concerned about the security of the United Kingdom, with only 13% admitting to not being concerned at all. In terms of gender, the worry is shared almost equally across the sexes, with 54% of men claiming to be ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ concerned, compared to 60% of women.

In terms of personal safety and perceptions of security on the streets, only 39% of those polled declared themselves as being either extremely or very concerned for their personal safety over the coming 6 months. The figure rises to 62% when respondents were questioned about fears over the misuse of personal information however, suggesting worries over ‘cloning’ and impersonation are more acute concerns than mugging or personal attack.

The growth in use of online shopping and banking have brought with them concerns over online security, with 67% reporting to be ‘somewhat’, ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about the threat of computer security, re’ viruses and security issues arising from unsolicited emails. The figures for those not concerned were notably high in the IT savvy 25-34 age range (26%) and the silver-surfer bracket of 55 to 64 year olds (33%).

Those in middle age are the most worried about credit card fraud, with youngsters decidedly less so. Amongst the 45 to 54 year old bracket of respondents, 68% admitted to being ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ concerned. This figure is only slightly lower for the ‘silver-surfer’ age range of 55 to 64 year olds, at 67% but the figure for 25 to 34 year olds is comparably lower, at 54%.

Neil Fisher, Vice President of Identity Management , Unisys, commented:- “The Unisys Security Index provides a telling insight into what is concerning the internet users in the UK most and provides valuable information for Government and private industry on the fears we have and which issues to address.  

That national security dominates the findings is perhaps no surprise given the attacks we witnessed in Glasgow and the ensuing closure of airports at a time when many were hoping to get away on holiday, both at the time this poll was undertaken. The threat of terrorist attack remains high on the agenda for the media, which will keep it very much front-of-mind with the public.  Similarly worries around ‘phishing’ and the misuse of data, as well as debit and credit card fraud, remain high in the national consciousness, reflecting greater awareness of data abuse, a topic covered extensively over the year in the press.

The data we received about online fraud was also interesting with older internet users more concerned with the security of their details held online than younger generations. Those under 35 definitely need to be more savvy to the dangers of online fraud, maybe taking a leaf from the book of their ‘silver-surfing’ peers”, he concluded.

The Unisys Security Index polled 952 adults across the UK. Interviews were carried out by telephone during the Summer of 2007.

WAG WANNABES TOLD TO GET GRADES

LEARNING and Skills Council claims that behind most famous footballers is a qualified WAG.  The ideal accessory for a wannabe-footballer’s wife may not be a pair of Christian Louboutin heels or to be on the guest list at Chinawhite but a good set of qualifications to fall back on, according to the Learning and Skills Council.

Of England’s highest profile WAGs, at least 9 in 12 are known to have at least the minimum level of qualifications needed to get on in life (5 good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent, such as a Level 2 diploma in Animal Care, Fashion Retail or Aerobic Instruction).  So rather than idealising WAGs for their glamorous lifestyles, the LSC is encouraging young people to follow their lead by gaining the minimum set of qualifications before leaving learning, whatever they aspire to be.

Top scorers for qualifications include Lisa Roughead (Michael Carrick), who holds a degree in business, and Michaela Henderson-Thynne, on-off flame of Stewart Downing, who is currently studying for a law degree at University.  Wayne Rooney’s other half Coleen McLoughlin also holds 10 GCSEs, while youngest member of the squad Melanie Slade (sweetheart of golden boy Theo Walcott) has recently passed her A-Level exams. Carly Zucker became a qualified personal trainer before meeting her boyfriend Joe Cole, while ex-Oasis manager and current girlfriend of Jermain Defoe, Charlotte Meares, holds A-Levels in psychology, performance arts and sociology.  Whilst ultimate WAG Victoria Beckham has succeeded despite leaving learning with a handful of GCSEs, the LSC is today warning that the odds of following in her footsteps are incredibly thin -- with, for example, the chances of being in a successful girl-band or winning X Factor less than 1 in 200,000.

While dating a footballer may be an appealing route to fame and fortune, it’s essential that all young people have the minimum set of qualifications – such as a Level 2 diploma or 5 A*-C GCSEs – to fall back on.  Girls’ Aloud singer and footballer’s wife Cheryl Cole recently criticised young women who aspire to the WAG epithet – but with previous research showing that 1 in 10 young women believe they’ll marry someone rich and a further 1 in 7 feel confident that all they need to succeed is luck, the Learning and Skills Council is today reminding young people that without the minimum set of qualifications, the odds are stacked against them.

Julia Dowd, Director of Learning at the Learning and Skills Council, comments:- “Many young people today believe that fame and fortune is possible without hard work, but what today’s findings show is that whatever your chosen career, gaining the minimum set of qualifications is an important first step. There’s no need to give up on your dreams, but the reality is that leaving your future down to chance could leave you unemployable or in a low-paid, dead-end job, so what we’re saying is that whatever it is you aspire to do, have a back up plan and gain the minimum set of qualifications – as so many of these young women have done.”

TOP WAGS BY QUALIFICATION

1. Lisa Roughead – Degree (Michael Carrick)

2. Michaela Henderson-Thynne -- Undergraduate student (Stewart Downing)

3. Emma Hadfield – Undergraduate student (Gary Neville)

4. Charlotte Meares – 3 A-Levels (Jermain Defoe)

5. Melanie Slade -- A-Levels (Theo Walcott)

6. Coleen McLoughlin -- 10 GCSEs (Wayne Rooney)

7. Alex Curran -- Beauty Therapy Qualification (Steven Gerrard)

8. Carly Zucker -- Personal Training Qualification (Joe Cole)

9. Toni Poole -- Beauty Therapy Qualification (John Terry)

10. Victoria Beckham -- handful of GCSEs (David Beckham)

11. Cheryl Cole – unknown (Ashley Cole)

12. Abigail Clancy – unknown (Peter Crouch)