Nearly Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults with Social Media Accounts Say They Have Been Hacked, According to University of Phoenix Sur...
April 27 2016 - 10:51AM
Business Wire
Nearly 9 in 10 also limit personal information
shared on social media due to fear of being hacked
Only 10 percent of internet-using adults in America used at
least one social networking site in 20051. More than a decade later
that number has grown exponentially, with 84 percent of U.S. adults
claiming to have at least one social media account, according to a
recent survey by University of Phoenix conducted online by Harris
Poll in February 2016 among 2,088 U.S. adults 18 years or older. As
the prominence of social media has grown, so too has the number of
criminals preying on those who use it.
Nearly two in three U.S. adults who have personal social media
profiles say they are aware that their accounts have been hacked
and 86 percent agree they limit the personal information they post
due to the fear of it being accessed by hackers. Despite efforts to
protect personal information, cybercriminals still often outwit the
consumer. In fact, in 2014, 70 percent of social media scams were
manually shared2, meaning people voluntarily and unwittingly shared
posts that linked to malicious or affiliate sites, up from just two
percent in 20133.
“Social media sites can lead users to believe their information
and data are secure through a few self-selected security settings.
But today’s cyber security criminals can often get around basic
passwords and uncover personal information,” said Dan Konzen,
college chair for the College of Information Systems and Technology
at University of Phoenix, Phoenix Main Campus. “The best way to
protect yourself is knowing what information is available online
and how to reduce access.”
U.S. adults take steps to enhance online security
Despite the high number of threats to Americans’ online
identities through their social media profiles, here’s some good
news: more than half (58 percent) of U.S. adults believe their data
on these platforms is somewhat or very secure. Nearly 9 in 10 (86
percent) say they check their security settings, with 58 percent
checking them at least once a month.
Eighty-six percent of U.S. adults also took precautionary
measures to make their accounts more secure once they were aware of
being hacked. The majority of people changed their passwords (61
percent) followed by changing or updating their security settings
(57 percent), removing personal information (33 percent) and
deleting their account all together (11 percent).
“Cybercriminals are incredibly inventive in finding ways to
obtain victims’ personal information, which makes it important to
educate people on how to combat criminals,” said Dennis Bonilla,
executive dean for the College of Information Systems and
Technology at University of Phoenix. “With cybercriminal savvy on
the rise, it’s important that University of Phoenix not only
provides consumers with the know-how to safely and smartly use
social media, but that we prepare, educate and train a future
workforce to address these issues.”
University of Phoenix® College of Information Systems and
Technology offers associates, bachelor and master’s degree, as well
as certificates, in cybersecurity through the newly created
Cybersecurity and Security Operations Institute. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, cyber security jobs are expected to
grow 37 percent between 2012 and 2022. University of Phoenix cyber
security degree programs educate students in cryptography,
enterprise security and systems audit, which enable students to
pursue careers after graduation.
For more information about each of these programs, including
on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by students who
completed the program and other important information, please
visit: phoenix.edu/programs/gainful-employment.
_____________1 Pew Research Center: Social Media Usage:
2005-20152 Symantec: Internet Security Threat Report, April 2015,
page 123 Symantec: Internet Security
Threat Report, April 2015, page 12
Tips to avoid being hacked
To maximize the benefits of social media as a tool to connect
with family and friends, news and entertainment, business and
shopping and more, while ensuring the safety of personal
information, Konzen offers the following tips to stay safe on
social media:
- Remember that nothing you post
online can be completely deleted. Just because you delete a
photo or status doesn’t mean it still can’t be found. If it isn’t
something you want public, don’t post it online.
- Protect your social media
passwords. Hackers can easily access accounts with simple
passwords, like pet names or birthdays. To protect passwords, use
sites like www.agilebits.com/onepassword and make sure passwords
utilize letters, numbers and characters.
- Use anonymity networks like Tor (The
Onion Router) or virtual private network (VPN) on public Wi-Fi.
Public hotspots often aren’t as secure as we believe. Social media
sites don’t have secure logins, so passwords and info can be
stolen. Only use secure networks or use Tor or VPN, which enhance
online privacy and security, if you have to use public Wi-Fi.
- Limit the personal information you
post on social media. Posting too much personal information can
make you an easy target for hackers. Search for yourself online and
see what information is available to everyone – you may be
surprised.
- Only connect with people you
know. Having hundreds of social media “friends” sounds great in
practice, but you could be connecting with hackers who only want to
steal your information. Only follow/friend or accept requests from
people you know.
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by
Harris Poll on behalf of Apollo Education Group between February 5
and 9, 2016, among 2,088 U.S. adults 18 years or older, 1,731 who
report having at least one social media account. For complete
survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact
Jennifer Marshall at jennifer.marshall@apollo.edu.
About the College of Information Systems and
Technology
University of Phoenix® College of Information Systems and
Technology is a leader and advocate for the development and
advancement of IT in global business operations. The College offers
associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Its
Faculty Advisory Council, composed of experts and leaders in the
field, ensures curriculum is on pace with national and
international market demands. Providing innovative digital learning
tools developed to suit all learning styles, the College focuses on
building technical knowledge and its successful application to
real-world business environments. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu/technology.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working
adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly
changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses,
and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue
career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives.
As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL),
University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering
associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from
campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160427006133/en/
University of PhoenixJennifer Marshall,
847-476-2734Jennifer.Marshall@apollo.edu
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