Norton Ships New App to Stop Hackers from Stealing Private Information Over Unsecured Wi-Fi
June 28 2016 - 1:14AM
Business Wire
Hackers eavesdropping and intercepting consumer
information on unsecured wireless networks while 61 percent of US
consumers think their data is protected1
Norton by Symantec (NASDAQ:SYMC) today introduced Norton WiFi
Privacy, a powerful, yet easy-to-use mobile app that helps shield
consumers’ information from hackers snooping on unsecured wireless
(Wi-Fi) networks.
“We know many consumers believe that using a password to access
public Wi-Fi means their information is safe, but that’s not
necessarily the case,” said Fran Rosch, executive vice president,
Norton Business Unit, Symantec. “Norton WiFi Privacy helps protect
information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, and denies
access to hackers who may be eavesdropping on the same
network.”
What’s At Stake?
The newly released Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report reveals that the
online habits of consumers, particularly Millennials and parents,
gives hackers unimpeded access to sensitive data like banking
information or social media passwords.
What turns people into easy targets is confusion about the
security of public Wi-Fi networks. Norton found that only 42
percent of consumers are able to distinguish between a secure and
an unsecure Wi-Fi network. Most people assume that all Wi-Fi
networks available in public places like airports, hotels and cafes
have security built-in. That’s not the case. When consumers log
onto an unsecure network, hackers are able to steal information as
it travels across the web, sell it on the dark web for profit or
even use the information to drain consumer bank accounts.
Even popular apps found on Android devices lack security – in
the U.S. alone, 22 percent of Android apps transmit sensitive
information without encryption to keep it protected. To combat
this, Norton WiFi Privacy uses sophisticated encryption technology
and scrambles consumer information to help protect their
information and identity online.
Consumers Unaware of the Risk
- More than one in two US consumers (61
percent) believe their personal information is safe when using
public Wi-Fi;
- More than half of U.S. consumers have
logged into personal and social media accounts while using unsecure
Wi-Fi networks, potentially compromising the credentials to their
personal and professional emails;
- One in five U.S. consumers have
accessed financial/banking information over public Wi-Fi;
- Younger generations are more likely to
think public Wi-Fi is safe: 68 percent Millennials and 62 percent
Gen X, vs. 55 percent for 55+. Surprisingly, parents (66 percent)
are more likely to think public Wi-Fi is safe than non-parents (59
percent).
Once aware of the risk, the survey found that consumers’ top
concerns include:
- Unauthorized access to financial
information (85 percent) and personal photos/videos (72 percent),
getting infected with malware (84 percent) and having user
information stolen (85 percent) while using public Wi-Fi;
- Eighty percent of consumers would dread
a criminal selling the login/passwords to sensitive accounts more
than an intimate photo leak;
- Sixty-three percent of consumers would
dread having their social media accounts hacked when using coffee
shop Wi-Fi more than not having internet access at all;
- Eighty-seven percent of consumers would
dread their information being stolen after paying a bill online
more than voting for a presidential candidate they hate.
Availability
The Norton WiFi Privacy app is available on Android and iOS
platforms for purchase in the iTunes and Google Play app stores. A
yearly subscription service is $29.99, which includes protection
for one mobile device and 24/7 in-app support. PC, Mac and
multi-device availability coming soon. For more information on our
consumer protection solutions, please
visit: www.norton.com.
Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report Methodology
The Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report is an online survey of 9,135 adults
ages 18+ who use Wi-Fi across nine markets, commissioned by Norton
by Symantec and produced by research firm Edelman Intelligence. The
margin of error for the total sample is +/- 1.03%. The U.S. sample
reflects input from 1,025 U.S. adults ages 18+ who use Wi-Fi. The
margin of error is +/- 3% for the total U.S. sample. Data was
collected May 17-31, 2016 by Edelman Intelligence.
About Symantec
Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ:SYMC) is the global leader in
cybersecurity. Operating one of the world’s largest cyber
intelligence networks, we see more threats, and protect more
customers from the next generation of attacks. We help companies,
governments and individuals secure their most important data
wherever it lives.
Note To Editors
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at https://www.symantec.com/about/newsroom. All prices noted
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trademarks of their respective owners.
1 Source: Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report, 2016
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160627006492/en/
Edelman for SymantecKaty Klein,
206-505-6553katy.klein@edelman.comorSymantec CorporationSpring
Harris, 650-527-0742Spring_Harris@symantec.com
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