Survey: 35% of people hand over personal data in exchange for discounts

Navigating the online environment safely is one of the major concerns of today's consumers, but with the advent of e-commerce, the certainty of this "security" has become somewhat threatened. This is because today's consumers are always on the lookout for deals to save money at any time of the year, and to obtain attractive discounts, they provide personal data such as phone numbers, Facebook accounts, email addresses, among other information. This habit can turn users into victims of identity theft, in addition to other cyberattacks. Data from a regional survey commissioned by the global cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab and developed by the Chilean market research consultancy CORPA found that nearly 40% of Latin Americans say they are accustomed to providing personal data in exchange for coupons, special discounts, or loyalty programs. The population that most practices this are Chileans (47%), followed by Colombians (45%) and Argentines (44%). Next are Peruvians with 37%, Brazilians with 35%, and Mexicans with 25%. Among buyers willing to share personal data, 44% are young people aged 18 to 24, 39% are aged 25 to 34, and 33% are aged 35 to 50. These results are part of the "Digital Hangover" campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the risks people are exposed to when using the internet without caution, and thus prevent them from regretting what they share, accept, or download – especially during the end-of-year period, when online transactions increase and so-called "phishing," a malicious method to lure internet users to fake pages and steal their data, intensifies. "Once we make our information public, there is no going back. When we act impulsively and share personal data or accept conditions without knowing what is behind them, we can become victims of identity theft, have our email and social media accounts hacked, and suffer financial losses. Additionally, the disclosure of data can cause great damage to our privacy, as this information is often sold to third parties for targeted advertising. Another important point: when we sign up for these discounts, we are also granting certain permissions for the use of the information we provide, and many users are not aware of this," warns Dmitry Bestuzhev, Director of the Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky Lab in Latin America. The study also revealed the behavior of Latin Americans during online transactions: 62% of respondents performed banking operations via their mobile device, and among these, Chileans are the most likely to do so, with 77%. They are followed by Colombians (68%) and Brazilians (63%). On the other hand, those who least prefer mobile payment methods are Argentines (54%), Mexicans (55%), and Peruvians (56%), although the numbers are still high. Bank transfers rank first in online operations in Latin America, with a 90% preference. Next, with 50% of user preference, come online purchases from supermarkets, retail stores, and stores abroad. Users aged 25 to 34 are the ones who conduct the most mobile transactions (69%). At 60%, people aged 35 to 50 come in second, and finally, young people aged 18 to 24 (54%). "The use and access to applications or web pages that encourage bank transactions, whether through attractive discounts and coupons or through products and services of interest, also represent an opportunity for cybercriminals. To give you an idea, 22% of Latin American users say they have had an online account hacked in the last 12 months, and Kaspersky Lab recorded a 14.5% increase in malware activity in the region compared to 2017 – with an average of 3.7 million attacks per day, or more than one billion this year," explains Bestuzhev. He adds that the idea is not to create a paranoia in people, but "we must educate ourselves about cyber threats and stay protected with tools that allow us to prevent or identify possible attacks." Source: Canal Tech

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of Latin Americans provide personal data for discounts?

Nearly 40% of Latin Americans say they are accustomed to providing personal data in exchange for coupons, special discounts, or loyalty programs.

What risks does sharing personal data for discounts pose?

Sharing personal data can lead to identity theft, hacked email and social media accounts, financial losses, and damage to privacy as information is often sold to third parties for targeted advertising.

What percentage of Latin American users had an online account hacked in the last 12 months?

22% of Latin American users say they have had an online account hacked in the last 12 months.