Kaspersky Lab today released new research which found that when relationships blossom, partners’ digital lives often become deeply integrated and boundaries of online privacy become blurred.
Woburn, MA – February 5, 2018 –Kaspersky Lab today released new research which found that when relationships blossom, partners’ digital lives often become deeply integrated and boundaries of online privacy become blurred. While 70 percent of survey respondents believe their relationships are more important than their privacy, the research showed that overstepping digital boundaries can lead to arguments and unhappy partnerships.
As much of our daily lives becomes bound up in online transactions and digital devices, the role of privacy and transparency in a relationship is changing. Partners are often sharing PINs, passwords, locations and devices with each other, without any consideration for digital boundaries. In many modern relationships, limiting a partner’s access to your digital life can be perceived as a lack of trust.
The idea of online boundaries is an undefined concept for many couples. Kaspersky Lab’s research found that 80 percent of people believe couples should have private space, both on and offline. However, every third internet user (31%) surveyed admitted to following their partner’s accounts online to keep tabs on their online activities. This figure rises to 40 percent among those who describe their relationships as unstable or unsure if they have a future.
Unhappy partners are also more likely to feel that their online privacy is endangered by their partner (31%) compared to those in a happy relationship (15%). Additionally, the research found that people in unhappy relationships are more inclined to want to keep some of their online activities to themselves (76%) compared to 54 percent of people in happy relationships. The most common online activities that people would like to keep private from their partners include the content of messages they send to other people, how they spend their money, some of their personal files and websites they have visited.
The issue of privacy and secrecy surrounding online activities can also lead to partners quarrelling. A third (33%) of survey respondents have argued after a partner viewed something online or on a device which the other didn’t want to share.
“When relationships form, online privacy borders are called into question, along with just how much people are prepared for their partner to know and access about their online life,” said Andrei Mochola, head of consumer business at Kaspersky Lab. “With so many partners using each other’s devices or snooping on their loved ones, privacy boundaries can go out of the window. It is important to strike the balance between a transparent, honest relationship and keeping your digital life secure. An open dialogue with your partner and setting privacy boundaries is a good starting point, which can be supported by privacy features in Kaspersky Lab products.”
By taking a few simple steps to safeguard your personal digital life, there can be room for love and privacy to go hand in hand – even if you open up your online world to your partner.
To keep your secrets safe, the File Shredder feature in Kaspersky Total Security permanently deletes files to ensure they can’t be restored. The Privacy Protection feature can hide messages and calls on your Android device, and to keep your website visits from prying eyes, the Privacy Cleaner clears your browsing history and removes all trace of activity on the Windows system.
The Private Browsing feature blocks website tracking and any attempts at data collection, stopping related advertising popping up for searches that you want to keep hidden. There is also no substitute for strong passwords across your accounts, especially if you feel you need to share them with a partner. Kaspersky Password Manager helps not only to generate strong passwords, but to keep them safe and your accounts secure.
For more details on the role of digital privacy and cybersecurity in modern relationships, read our full report.
About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company operating in the market for over 20 years. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into next generation security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
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Media Contact
Meghan Rimol
781.503.2671
meghan.rimol@kaspersky.com
