Security fears on Internet cause big cuts in US Web usage: survey

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/26/051026170646.qeg79ytn.html
 
Security fears on Internet cause big cuts in US Web usage: survey
Oct 26 2:08 PM US/Eastern
                

Nearly one-third of US Internet users are cutting back on Web usage and 25
percent say they have stopped buying online due to fears of identity theft
and other threats, a survey showed. 


The survey by Consumer Reports WebWatch, a joint effort of the consumer
magazine Consumer Reports and other organizations, found Internet users are
less trustful of websites and have been adjusting their behavior due to what
they see as threats online. 


Eighty percent said they were at least "somewhat concerned" someone could
steal their identity from personal information on the Internet, and 86
percent have made at least one change in their online behavior. 


The survey found 30 percent say they have reduced their overall use of the
Internet. 


Some 53 percent said they have stopped giving out personal information on
the Internet, and 25 percent say they have stopped buying things online. 


Among those who continue to shop online, 29 percent said they have cut back
on how often they buy on the Internet. 


Additionally, 54 percent of those who shop online report they have become
more likely to read a site's privacy policy or user agreement before buying.



The report confirmed other surveys that showed eroding confidence in the
Internet for commerce due to concerns about identity theft, credit card
fraud and security breaches that leaked personal information. 


The latest survey of 1,501 Internet users was conducted by Princeton Survey
Research Associates International. 


The survey found Internet users were keenly aware of the questions about
information security -- with 88 percent saying keeping personal information
safe and secure is very important. 


"We're gratified that over time, our guidelines for improving website
credibility, and the general concerns of US Internet users, remain
connected," said Beau Brendler, director of Consumer Reports WebWatch. 


"The types of qualities users expect from credible websites are the same
qualities found in WebWatch's guidelines." 


Although fears have increased, overall interest in the Internet remains
strong, the survey found. 


The percentage of adults saying they get most of their news from the
Internet has doubled from five percent in a similar survey in 2002 to 11
percent in this poll. 


Some 27 percent say they have visited a blog in the past several months, but
just one in eight users (12 percent) say they believe the information on
blogs is accurate at least most of the time. 


Nearly half the poll's respondents -- 47 percent -- say they have come
across manipulated digital images on the Web. However, two-thirds said they
trust online news sites a lot or somewhat to use photographs that are
genuine and have not been altered to change their meaning. 

_______________________________________________
Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts.
https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec
Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.