Employees don't trust employers with mobile data, privacy.

• Position: PRIVACY - Brief article

Use of personal mobile devices for sharing information on company networks has become commonplace. Most employees, however, don't trust their employers to protect their personal information.

A recent study of about 3,000 employees in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany discovered that only 30% trust their employers to keep personal information private and not use it against them. Those in the UK were most trusting, with 34% saying they completely trust their employer, compared to 31% in the United States and 24% in Germany.

The survey further revealed confusion among the respondents as to what constitutes private information. Nearly 41% felt certain their employer could not see any private information on their mobile device. Only 28% thought the company could see their work e-mail and attachments.

"The reality is that if these devices are used to get corporate email, employers can...