Americans Embrace Digital Services but Demand Stronger Security and Control, Finds IDEMIA Secure Transactions Study

The IDEMIA Secure Transactions study, conducted across 11 countries with more than 3,300 respondents¹, highlights a challenge for the digital economy. As digital services become increasingly seamless and embedded in daily life, consumers expect security to evolve at the same pace. In the United States, one of the world’s most digitally mature markets, cybersecurity is no longer viewed as a technical issue alone but as a core component of digital trust.

Key findings in the United States:

• 47% of Americans have experienced hacking or data theft (vs 38% average)
• 57% rank personal data protection as their top digital security priority.
• 46% cite security as the primary criterion when choosing digital services.
• 72% of respondents familiar with quantum computing see it as a potential cybersecurity threat.

Cybersecurity is a core driver of consumer trust

Americans continue to embrace digital services across payments, connectivity, e-commerce and online platforms. The study shows that security has become a decisive factor in digital adoption. Nearly half of respondents in the United States identify security as the primary factor when selecting a digital service, reflecting a high expectation for providers to deliver protection and convenience.

This shift is also driven by lived experience. Almost one in two Americans report having faced hack or data theft, positioning the United States among the most exposed markets in the study. As a result, cybersecurity is becoming less of a technical feature and more of a prerequisite for trust.

Consumers want greater visibility and control

Americans are not looking to reduce their use of digital services. Instead, they want stronger safeguards and more transparency on how their data, identities and transactions are protected. Interest is particularly strong in solutions that provide greater visibility and control. For example, 77% of respondents would like to manage payment security settings from third-party websites and applications directly through their banking application. This reflects a clear expectation for user-centric security experiences that combine protection with convenience.

Emerging technologies are raising new questions

Awareness of future cybersecurity challenges is increasing.

• 68% associate artificial intelligence with more sophisticated cyberattacks
• 72% of those familiar with quantum computing already see it as a potential threat.

This growing awareness comes as governments, technology providers and companies are beginning to prepare for a future transition toward post-quantum cryptography and more resilient digital infrastructures.

Consumers in the United States expect security to be embedded into every digital interaction. As adoption accelerates across payments and connectivity to identity and online services, trust depends on the ability to deliver both seamless experiences and robust protection. At the same time technologies such as AI and quantum computing are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, and raising expectations for future-proof security.
Marc BERTIN, CTO at IDEMIA Secure Transactions.

Security and trust as foundations of the digital economy

As a global provider of secure payment, connectivity and cybersecurity solutions, IST works with financial institutions, telecom operators, automotive and IoT manufacturers, as well as digital service providers worldwide to secure digital interactions at scale. The study reflects IST’s broader commitment to understanding how trust, security and emerging technologies are shaping the future of digital services.

The report also underscores the importance of secure-by-design technologies such as encryption, authentication and tokenization, which help strengthen trust while maintaining seamless user experiences.

¹ The IPSOS BVA survey for IDEMIA Secure Transactions was conducted between February and March 2026 in France, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, The United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, over more than 3300 persons aged 15 and over. The survey’s representativeness was ensured through the quota method. Samples in each country were weighted according to gender, age and region.