Chief executives should be held personally responsible for cyberattacks, with many users believing they should also be compensated for such breaches, new research suggests.

A survey by data protection firm Veritas Technologies found that more than a third (35%) of UK consumers would see a business leader as personally responsible if a cyber breach of that business occurs.

It suggests that more than two-thirds (68%) believe they should be compensated when incidents such as ransomware attacks compromise their data, while 8% said they would like to see chief executives sent to prison if such a breach does take place.

Ransomware attacks involve hackers gaining access to a database and demanding payment in order to release control of it back to the business and its users.

Simon Jelley, vice president of product management at Veritas Technologies, said: “As consumers, we are increasingly well-educated about ransomware, so we’re unforgiving of businesses that don’t take it as seriously as we do ourselves.”

The research showed that 79% of those asked said they expected a business to have software protection in place, and 62% said back-up copies of data should also be used.

“Now,…

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