Survey to Reveal Security Habits of Removable Media Device Users

Removable pocket media devices have surged in popularity as these compact and highly portable devices offer the ability to back up computers and transport files conveniently and cost effectively. But their portability opens another door -- the potential for lost data that could fall into the wrong hands. Anecdotal evidence suggests that end users tend to lose these devices multiple times, and most of the devices have little or no security features.

The aim of the survey by Utimaco is to provide significant insight into what type of data end users store on their pocket media devices, how many times they've actually lost a portable device and what level of data protection they currently have on their devices. Utimaco will conduct the survey between September 1, 2006 and October 31, 2006.

"If you happen to lose your flash drive during your morning commute, anyone who picks up the device may be able to access data on it. These devices can also be stolen off a desk or borrowed and later returned to the office once the data has been copied," said Andreas Philipp, deputy vice president of Utimaco. "We know this risk exists, but no one has quantified the extent of the problem. Securing a removable media device is just as vital as securing a computer."