The average commute time to and from work in the UK is 59 minutes per day and while guidance around protecting physical belongings and reporting suspicious behaviour on public transport is clear, commuters might be leaving themselves open to considerable cyber-risk. This is according to some of the UK’s top public transport providers, and underscored by research published today by Kaspersky finding that almost three-quarters (72%) of UK commuters are ‘very anxious’ about the security of their personal data while commuting, yet many continue to engage in risky behaviours.
Around 2.2 million people across the UK rely on public transport (buses, coaches, trains, trams, underground and light rail) every day to get to and from their places of work (ONS). To understand consumer sentiment towards digital privacy during these journeys, Kaspersky polled over 1000 public transport commuters with the data revealing that despite clear concerns, exactly two-thirds (66%) said they remained happy to write work emails on public transport, and 29% openly work on word processing documents regardless of who happens to be located near them.
A further 35% of commuters revealed that they had overheard sensitive business details during phone conversations while on the move, with a quarter (24%) overhearing identifiable business names and specific workplace locations. As the old idiom goes ‘loose lips sink ships’, and with potential cybercriminals lurking nearby, commuters voluntarily giving up valuable information in a public setting puts both themselves and their places of work at considerable risk.
The research also finds the precautions are not being taken to conceal potentially highly sensitive visual cues. Over half (56%) of respondents revealed that they have observed work badges, personal IDs, or even email signatures identifying details such as profession, name and workplace location whilst on public transport.
David Emm, Principal Security Researcher, Kaspersky explains, "Our research findings reveal that many of us are unwittingly leaving valuable personal breadcrumbs for others to follow during their daily travel to work, including business names, contact details and other sensitive information. A personal phone conversation on a train or quickly editing an urgent Word document on a busy underground tube ride might seem harmless, but these actions can lead to data leaks and serious breaches of privacy.”
“Although it’s encouraging that 43% of respondents revealed they are starting to take steps to protect their privacy by, for instance, opting to send a text message instead of making a phone call while commuting, it’s concerning that only 38% reported receiving guidelines from their employers regarding device usage while on the move. Without this guidance, employees can inadvertently blur the lines between personal and professional data, exposing themselves and their organisations to potential threats. For this reason, we are delighted to today publish our ‘Guide to Digital Discretion’ today, in partnership with etiquette experts Debrett’s. Together, our experts have created a comprehensive guide to help you keep your devices safe during your commute. “
Liz Wyse, Head of Publishing, Debrett's elaborates, “Many of us are transfixed by our digital devices and, particularly on public transport, we become lost in the illusion that we are moving within our own private digital bubble. In a public sphere, where we may be subject to close, and malicious, surveillance, it is vital that we safeguard our own cyber security. Being observant of the people around us is the cornerstone of good manners and is also a vital tool in protecting our privacy.”
