The cyber security company Surfshark organized a social experiment recently where people were given free coffee in exchange for sharing personal data.
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So many people gave away their personal data in exchange for free coffee
The experiment was held for one day in a cafe in Manhattan and was done to show how easy it is to get someone’s personal data and information.
All people who visited the cafe were given a menu where everything was free. But instead of paying with real money for their coffee, they had to share personal data. For example, a cappuccino cost an email address.
The experiment showed that a whopping 78 percent of coffee shop guests were prepared to give away their personal data online, for coffee.
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Personal data can end up in the wrong hands
Every day, you leave traces behind on the internet, and a lot of personal data is also stored there. But when you give away parts of your data or allow websites to access it, there is always the risk that your data and personal information end up in the wrong hands.
There are several types of online crime, including impersonation, phishing, viruses and scam emails. It is therefore important to be vigilant online and review what information you share where and with whom.
– One of Surfshark’s surveys shows that over the past 20 years, 11.1 million Swedes’ e-mail addresses have been leaked online. It opens up all sorts of cybercrime and identity theft, says Vytautas Kaziukonis, Surfshark’s founder and CEO in a press release.
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