3 On Your Side: Identity Theft - We'd Rather Be Naked
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There have been hundreds of data breaches this year - exposing the personal information for millions of Americans. Even so, many people still don't take the necessary steps to protect themselves. 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan finds that there is a sharp contrast between what consumers say versus what they do when it involves safeguarding their personal information.
Mike Yeager says he's constantly concerned about his personal data being stolen online. He says, "You don't know how much you can trust, or how vulnerable you really are."
A new survey from MasterCard found 77 percent of Americans are worried their financial information and Social Security number could be stolen.
Vilona Trachtnberg is concerned about her personal data too. She says, "If someone hacks into my account and takes everything what am I supposed to do?"
But people are doing little to protect themselves. Of those polled, close to half admitted they rarely change passwords for online banking and 44 percent said they use the same password for multiple accounts, putting them at greater risk.
Ron Hale, Chief Knowledge Officer at ISACA says, "Places where you have more sensitive information you should change it on a regular basis and that might be on a monthly basis or every other month."
Rachel Laureno says she's so concerned about protecting her personal financial information, she avoids online banking all together. She says, "I don't want there to be any risk at all."
One interesting note, 55 percent of the people surveyed said they'd rather have naked pictures of themselves leaked online than have their financial information stolen.
For more information on the MasterCard survey visit: