SINGAPORE: Internet Society’s latest survey finds online security as the one of the pillars for building confidence in the Internet. A large number of respondents found data protection (77 percent) as the most important tool for the growth of internet.  

The report further finds that 70 percent of the users had better internet experience while 55 percent experienced drop in cost of internet subscription in the survey polled across 2,000 end-users. The respondents also felt that consumerprotection (54 percent), transparency (51 percent), and the ability to communicate confidentially (51 percent) were more important than content, service, technology and applications (45 percent).

Data protection is the most crucial factor in building trust among the users. The survey reveals only 34 percent of the users finds the current security policies capable to tackle the cyber attacks.

“The results of this year’s survey show that stakeholders in the region hold connectivity and security as paramount, and feel these need urgent attention from governments,” says Rajnesh Singh, Internet Society’s Regional Bureau Director for Asia-Pacific. “As trust online has become a key issue for Internet users throughout Asia Pacific, it’s clear that people feel that current policies are not doing enough to protect their privacy and security online,” added Singh.