CyEx Survey: Data Breach Settlements Leave Consumers Cold as Trust in Corporate Privacy Protections Falters

A new survey from CyEx suggests American consumers are running out of patience with companies that treat privacy violations as problems solvable with a one-time payout. The findings reveal that while data has become the most prized corporate asset, the systems designed to protect individuals from misuse remain ineffective and mistrusted.

Consumer Anxiety Outpaces Confidence

The poll, conducted in June 2025 with more than 1,500 consumers and 200 senior data security professionals, shows a stark gap between corporate rhetoric and public confidence. Ninety-two percent of consumers expressed concern about the handling of their data, but only 15 percent said they were very confident that companies were safeguarding it. Stress and anxiety about digital exposure are not abstract feelings, but daily concerns tied to how search history, medical details, and shopping habits can be harvested, resold, and weaponized against individuals.

Quick Cash vs Long-Term Protection

One of the sharpest signals in the research is that consumers increasingly view small settlement checks as inadequate remedies for data misuse. Just 26 percent felt that companies did enough to make up for violations, and 63 percent said they would rather receive meaningful privacy services or tools than a modest payout. An overwhelming 91 percent said they would actively use privacy tools if offered after a breach.

A Misalignment of Incentives

For businesses, the incentives are skewed. Ninety-seven percent of surveyed executives admitted that data is their most valuable corporate asset, underscoring why breaches remain such a persistent problem. “Data has become the crown jewel for organizations,” said one executive, “and the disconnect is that the consumer impact of misuse is still being treated as an afterthought.”

The Path Forward

CyEx, which has worked on high-profile cases including Capital One, T-Mobile, and Morgan Stanley, argues that the remediation model needs a reset. Instead of one-off settlements, the focus should shift to comprehensive, proactive protections that give consumers tools to defend themselves long after headlines fade.

The survey shows a public that is both savvy and skeptical. People know their data is being bought and sold, and they are demanding more than token apologies or cash scraps in return. The message to corporations is clear: privacy has become a frontline issue, and failure to treat it as such will erode trust faster than any breach notification can repair.