Posted on: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Companies' data breaches often inside jobs
By John MacIntyre
Percentage of all data breaches in the U.S. that are caused by insiders, according to the results of a study commissioned by Compuware and conducted by the Ponemon Institute: 75
Percentage of breaches committed by external hackers: 1
Percentage of respondents who indicated that their organizations have had data breaches: 79
WHERE THE WEALTH IS
Average annual income of the wealthiest 10 percent of U.S. households, as defined by net worth in the Federal Reserve Board study, according to the American Affluence Research Center: $256,000
Percentage of the income earned by all American households that this group represents: 36
Percentage of the total net worth of all U.S. households that they control: 70
TOP E-TAILERS
Ranks of L.L. Bean, Zappos and Lands' End among the top-rated e-tailers, according to a Consumer Reports survey: 1, 2, 3
Last year, estimated value of the merchandise ordered online in the apparel, accessories and shoes category (more than any other category of merchandise): $23 billion
TOSSING AND TURNING
Percentage of people who say they have trouble falling asleep at least one night per week, according to a survey conducted by research firm Ipsos for AmericInn Hotels: 62
Percentage who say they have a tough time sleeping every single night: 10
Percentage of Americans who say they just accept their daily sleepiness and keep going, according to a study by the National Sleep Foundation: 84
WORTH THE WAIT?
Percentage of shoppers who are satisfied (extremely/very satisfied) with an average wait time of about 4 minutes or less to check out, according to MARC Research: 79
Percentage of customers who stated they will forgo a purchase if the check-out line is too long: 10
Percentage of consumers who stated long lines will affect their decision to shop at a particular retailer in the future: 43
MOMMY MONEY
Approximate number of moms in the U.S., according to a Mom Central Consulting report: 75 million
Percentage of all household purchases influenced by moms: 85
Estimated number of dollars spent each year by mothers: $2 trillion
OVERBEARING BOSSES
Percentage of workers who felt that they were frequently or occasionally micromanaged (managed with excessive control or attention to details) by their boss, according to a survey of Americans by global consultants BlessingWhite: 37.4
Percentage of those under 34 who felt micromanaged: 40
Percentage of those over 55 who made the same complaint: 27
JOB HUNTERS ABOUND
Percentage of business leaders today who say they know someone who is searching for a new job, according to a worldwide survey of senior executives and managers conducted by NFI Research: 96
Percentage of senior executives and managers who know up to five people looking for a job: 65
DIGITAL DELAY
Estimated number of households that are not ready for the upcoming transition to all-digital broadcasting and would be unable to receive any television programming at all if the transition occurred today, according to The Nielsen Co.: 9 million
Number of households that have at least one television set that will no longer work when the digital transition occurs: 12.6 million
NAME THAT PET
Rank of "Max" on the list of most popular pet names in recent years, according to a study by Veterinary Pet Insurance: 1
Ranks of Rush Limbark, Sirius Lee Handsome, Rafikikadiki, Low Jack and Meatwad on the list of most unusual dog names as selected by VPI employees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
IDLE THOUGHT
"How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners and instant cameras teach patience to its young?"
— Paul Sweeney
Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.
