IT security and data protection firm Sophos undertook an experiment about identity theft, which revealed that the British public are not being particularly responsible when it comes to offering their personal data.
Sophos hit the streets of Bristol with a video camera, and attempted to illicit personal information from passers-by. During filming, all but one person interviewed gave their full name and a large number shared the date of birth and email address with no comprehension they could be giving these details to an identity thief.
The research was conducted towards the end of National Identity Theft Protection Week - Graham Culey, senior technology consultant at Sophos who conducted the research claims that with more time and effort he could probably have wheedled additional information, such as addresses and bank providers, out of his “victims”.
