Iris^® Powered by Generali ("Iris"), provider of a proprietary identity and cyber protection platform, today released the findings of its inaugural Identity & Cybersecurity Concerns Survey, which polls consumers on their digital security practices, as well as fraud resolution experiences if previously victimized. The survey also asked respondents to identify their top concerns surrounding ID theft and areas where they feel most vulnerable, building off the findings of Iris' annual Holiday Shopping ID Theft survey which the company has conducted over the past 8 years.

Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris, commented on the findings, "While many respondents feel secure using their devices, most only feel 'somewhat secure,' revealing an underlying uncertainty. At the same time, most aren't doing all they can to protect themselves from these threats, reinforcing the urgent need for comprehensive identity theft protection services. This gap between perception and preparedness leaves consumers increasingly vulnerable in a rapidly evolving threat landscape – particularly with AI enabling cybercriminals to launch more sophisticated, convincing, and large-scale attacks. At the end of the day, consumers really shouldn't be navigating these risks alone."

When questioned about their online security habits, only 3 in 10 respondents said they employed all recommended cybersecurity recommendations. And this is in spite of deep concerns related to a breach of their personal devices, compromised passwords, and having their home title or deed stolen. Respondents overwhelmingly identified AI when considering threats to their personal information, with 91% listing it as a concern. Women were disproportionately more likely to see AI as a threat, with 41% of females responding that they are extremely concerned compared with 32% of male participants.

The survey also asked respondents to identify life events that they believed made them most vulnerable to identity theft, with 33% of participants listing "moving to a new location" as posing the greatest risk. This was followed by "starting a new business" (31%) and "buying or selling a home" (30%). Notably, Baby Boomer and Gen X participants were far more likely to identify buying a home as a threat (35% and 36% respectively) than Millennials or Gen Z respondents (25% and 26% respectively), which aligns with recent studies conducted by financial institutions like CitiBank that show most younger Americans do not anticipate they will own a home in their lifetime.

Additionally, when asked who they would reach out to if notified of a data breach, most respondents (46%) indicated they would reach out to their bank or credit card company for support – ahead of just 19% who said they would reach out to their cybersecurity or identity protection provider. 

"These findings only confirm what we're doing at Iris. Our identity and cyber protection suite has been designed with this idea in mind, allowing our partners to seamlessly integrate proactive security into the systems their customers already use," said Erik Nienaber, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Iris. "By embedding protection where consumers already are – whether through banks, credit card companies, or other trusted providers – we're making it easier than ever for them to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats without having to navigate complex security solutions on their own."

For those who had been a victim of fraud or identity theft in the past 2 years, the survey found that 93% of fraud victims say the resolution process caused them stress, with more than 1 in 2 (52%) saying it was more stress than they ever experienced or significant stress. Only 5% of respondents indicated that an identity protection provider helped them achieve a resolution. At the same time, a majority of consumers (66%) said they would be interested in purchasing cybersecurity protection offerings from a bank or credit card company if offered.