Americans Worried About National Security, ID Fraud, Unisys Security Index Shows

Business Wire, Oct 30, 2007

Consumers Feel Safe Overall, But Cite Pockets of Worry; Women and Blacks, in Particular, Want Government to Do More to Prevent Terrorist Attacks

BLUE BELL, Pa. -- Americans feel fairly safe overall, but the Unisys Security Index reveals that many are anxious about national security, ID fraud and financial health. Unisys Corp. (NYSE:UIS) today unveiled the first U.S. results from its ongoing, global survey of consumer opinion on security issues. Key findings include:

* A majority of respondents (62 percent) are very concerned about national security threats;

* Women and blacks, more so than other respondents, want tougher anti-terrorism efforts from the U.S. government;

* College graduates and city dwellers are less concerned about national security than people with less education and those who live outside cities;

* Four in 10 Americans are extremely concerned over their financial security; and

* Seven in 10 Americans fear identity fraud; senior citizens are less worried about identity fraud than younger Americans.

These results, from a poll of 1,002 U.S. consumers, are part of the Unisys Security Index, an ongoing global measure of consumer opinion on various issues related to national, personal, financial and Internet security. Published three times a year, the Security Index surveys more than 13,000 people in 14 countries. The study measures consumer perceptions on a scale of zero to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of perceived anxiety.

In addition to the U.S., the Unisys Security Index includes consumer sentiment from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom.

"We live in an increasingly complex world, so it's encouraging that most Americans feel only moderate levels of concern about their safety," says Tim Kelleher, vice president of enterprise security at Unisys. "But the Unisys Security Index shows that specific risks are top of mind for many people and demonstrates the imperative for both the public and private sectors to re-evaluate how they address security issues."

The overall U.S. reading stands at 151, just past the midway point and indicating a state of moderate concern. Index readings for national security (159), financial (154) and personal security (155) are above the midpoint and in line with overall sentiment; however, the Internet reading was just 135.

National Security: Women, Blacks Urge More Anti-Terrorism Efforts

More than half of all respondents (62 percent) are extremely or very concerned with U.S. national security, and only 10 percent of respondents were not at all concerned.

A majority of respondents (66 percent) believe the U.S. government should do more to prevent another terrorist attack in this country; less than one-third (29 percent) feel that government is doing enough to protect its citizens from terrorism.

Breaking down the responses further reveals that 42 percent of women feel the federal government should "dramatically" increase its efforts to prevent another terrorist attack on U.S. soil, versus only 25 percent of men who feel the same way. By race, 52 percent of blacks feel that the government needs to do much more to stop terrorism, versus 32 percent of whites and 29 percent of Hispanics.

U.S. college graduates and city dwellers are less worried about national security than those with less education and those who live outside metropolitan areas. While large cities are thought to be primary terrorism targets, only 60 percent of people who reside in urban areas are extremely concerned with national security compared to 71 percent of people who live outside major metropolitan areas.

"This research shows that anxiety about security varies greatly by gender, ethnicity and location," Kelleher says.

"That makes it difficult for the public and private sectors to address the security concerns with common solutions for all their constituents. But the results clearly show that Americans want their government to increase its efforts to prevent terrorism."

Regarding specific national-security threats, 40 percent of all respondents see land-border security as needing the greatest enhancement, versus 29 percent who selected airports and 23 percent who chose seaports as the weakest links in national security.

Financial Security: Many Feeling a Financial Squeeze

In addition to national security and identity fraud, Americans also struggle with securing their current and future financial obligations, and current headlines about problems in the mortgage and credit markets may be exacerbating concerns.

Four in 10 Americans are extremely concerned about their financial security and their ability to meet essential financial obligations. In what appears to be a major gap among ethnicities, 61 percent of black respondents are concerned about financial obligations compared to 47 percent of Hispanics and 26 percent of whites.

"A significant percentage of Americans are feeling squeezed when it comes to making their monthly payments, and with the credit markets becoming further constrained, this finding is one to watch in our future Security Index polls," Kelleher says.