Identity protection in the digital age – @shutterstock | DR MANAGER
The internet has now conquered almost all areas of our lives. This has many advantages, but also poses risks. "A major disadvantage is the increasing vulnerability of personal data and thus of one's own identity, the misuse of which can increase," says Manfred Güllner, founder and managing director of the opinion research institute forsa, which investigated the topic of "Identity Protection in the Digital Age" on behalf of Schufa.
The survey reveals that the majority of people in Germany believe they are well-informed about the dangers of personal data misuse online. Nevertheless, twelve percent of those surveyed have already fallen victim to identity theft. Victims become aware of the misuse through various means, including inexplicable bills, account activity, or payment reminders.
Most such cases have a happy ending – only one in ten victims suffers financial loss. To protect themselves from the misuse of their personal data, study participants, for example, pay attention to the sender of emails and, if necessary, do not open them. Worryingly, a third do not ensure that their security software is up to date. Only slightly more than half of those surveyed regularly delete their browser history or cookies on their devices.
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