According to a new survey, careless work habits of commuters using public transport pose a major risk of data theft. Kaspersky, a multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider firm, recently conducted an investigation that revealed shocking habits of UK commuters that could put work security at risk. Around 2.2 million users in the UK travel to work by public transport, and most of them have some activity that could inadvertently deliver malicious emails to their employees’ mailboxes, posing the most serious privacy risk to organizations from leaks.
Citing a cybersecurity firm report metro news According to the report, 66 percent of commuters admitted to writing work-related emails while waiting for public transport; however, 29 percent said they freely typed very important documents, seemingly without any awareness of what was going on around them. This puts sensitive information at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
In addition, 35% reported they had overheard confidential business information through cell phone conversations on public transportation; 24% reported specifically identifiable business names and work locations. To the ears of some cyberthieves, all of this may sound like a beloved adage: “loose lips sink ships,” as passengers unwittingly share valuable information with people sitting nearby – some of whom may also be cyberthieves.
Kaspersky advises commuters to stay alert and protect themselves by hiding the most sensitive visible information, such as work badges, personal IDs, email signatures and workplace location, while traveling on public transport. As these risks of data breach cases are increasing day by day, awareness about private life and security during daily commute becomes a priority for everyone.
David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky, explains: “Many of us inadvertently leave valuable personal information for others to follow during their daily work commute, including business names, contact details and other sensitive information.”
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“If you’re handling strategic information during your commute, the impact of a leak could be huge – and potentially easily accessible to those who are aware of it. Whether it’s a financial deal, a legal matter, or patient data, exposing such details publicly could have significant consequences for both the business and the individual responsible.”
