Security and trust are still major concerns with users of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This was part of the findings of a recent survey by global mobile trade body Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF). The latter today published its latest report in the Global Consumer Survey series looking at ‘The Impact of Trust on IoT’.
The global survey of over 5,000 mobile users in eight markets looked at consumer perceptions about the future of a connected world.
Supported by Online security company, AVG Technologies, the survey polled consumers in UK, USA, Brazil, France, Germany, China, India and South Africa. It revealed that while consumers saw the tangible benefit of IoT (just 1 consumer in 10 said a world of connected devices would not deliver such value), more than half also harboured concerns about the perceived risks and threats in a world of connected devices.
Globally, 60 percent of those polled were worried about the IoT, and especially so in growing markets such as Brazil, India and South Africa (66 percent), although in the UK it appears to be less of an issue (50 percent). Trust-related issues privacy (62 percent) and security (54 percent) were the number one concern, named twice as often as real-world concerns such as physical safety (27 percent) or not being able to fix the technology if it broke down (24 percent).
Home security was, remarkably, the IoT application about which consumers had the greatest concern at 30 percent, a marked increase over, for example, connected cars (12 percent) or connected heating systems (6 percent).
A quarter of the respondents considered health-related information as the most sensitive data when it came to connected devices, and this was especially the case in China. By contrast, in more mature markets such as USA and Germany, there was heightened sensitivity around location data (52 percent and 50 percent, respectively, as compared to a global average of 43 percent).
Rather dramatically, 1 in 5 consumers (21 percent) even worried that IoT would result in machines taking over the Earth.
“Whilst this survey shows that consumers are excited about a future connected world, it also clearly identifies the need for the industry to consider how such technology and services are rolled out when it comes to building a trusted relationship with consumers” said Rimma Perelmuter, Chief Executive Officer of MEF.
Image Credit: MEF