Americans' Data Security Concerns Rise as Text Scams Target Young Adults and Black Americans
A new survey reveals a growing concern among Americans about the security of their personal data, with only 48% confident it's not being distributed without their knowledge. This dip in confidence comes as text and messaging apps have emerged as a significant source of scams, particularly affecting young adults and Black Americans.
The shift in scam tactics has seen a worrying increase in text-based attacks. Three in ten Americans who experienced a cyberattack or scam reported it starting with a text message or a messaging app. Notably, young adults aged 18 to 29 have seen a 27-point increase in such scams, highlighting a pressing concern for this demographic.
Black Americans are disproportionately affected, with those who encountered a scam being more than twice as likely to report losing money (37%) compared to white Americans (15%). Despite these alarming trends, specific manufacturers of text and messaging apps linked to SMS fraud in the past three years remain unidentified. Details on how these companies have evolved their anti-fraud measures are also lacking, raising questions about industry response to this growing issue.
On the brighter side, early adopters of passkeys, a tool introduced only three years ago, are embracing this added layer of security. Nearly a third of Americans who use multifactor authentication have started using passkeys. However, early adopters face challenges due to varying levels of support across devices and services.
With nearly half of U.S. adults targeted by cyberattacks or scams and one in ten losing money, the need for robust security measures is clear. As text and messaging apps continue to be a growing source of scams, particularly among young adults and Black Americans, it's crucial for both users and manufacturers to stay vigilant and proactive in protecting personal data.
