You know the expression "pull the plug?' Well it seems over over 60% of Americans think the President should have the authority to "pull the plug" on the Internet in the event of "a coordinated malicious cyber attack."
This was one the results from the recently released Unisys Security Index.
As per their website, the Index is conducted twice a year, and provides a regular, statistically robust measure of concerns about four areas of security:
- National security
- Financial security
- Internet security
- Personal security
Here's what they found specifically...
- The majority of Americans (61%) believe the President should have the ability to shut down portions of the internet in the event of a coordinated malicious cyber attack.
- This is nearly twice as many Americans than those who do not believe the President should have that authority (32%).
- National security and financial security are by far the greatest concerns to Americans. Internet security and personal security concerns saw double-digit decreases since the first half of the year.
- 73% of Americans who access the internet regularly update antivirus software; only 8% never do this
- Only 37% of Americans regularly use and update mobile device passwords, suggesting that users of mobile devices have not made the leap from providing the same level of protection to those devices than they apply to their PCs and laptops
- 80% of Americans regularly limit access to personal information that can be accessed on social media sites
This chart below shows more detailed findings... and for more ways to stay safe be sure to read "How to stay safe in a social media world"
So... do you agree?
Should the President have the ability to flick the proverbial switch on the Internet?
Do you limit access to your personal information online?
Do you update passwords as often as you should?