Study finds lack of awareness of online security risks

Friday, January 15, 2016 - 09:30 by Simon Crisp

A new survey from MIRACL has revealed that in spite of the threats that people in the UK face when trying to shop online, such as accessing their bank account or filling out their tax return, many are simply unaware of what dangers await them on the web, according to IT Pro Portal.

A thousand consumers from across the country were questioned in the study, with 48 per cent of those who have used online services to access finance platforms stating that they are not concerned about becoming the victims of fraud. This is in spite of the fact that 20 per cent of respondents also said that they or someone they know has suffered from this type of malicious activity in the past.

Interestingly, there was a greater awareness of the risks posed by shopping online, with 51 per cent of people saying that this was the kind of web-based activity which made them hesitant about the safety of their personal information.

Report spokesperson, Brian Spector, said that it was surprising to see just how relaxed consumers were about online services, suggesting that people are putting their trust in things like online banking and government solutions, while expressing greater concerns about e-commerce. This is in spite of the fact that carrying out safe shopping online puts a smaller amount of private data at risk than using online banking.

Sixty six per cent of those questioned said that they tend to use a more secure password for their online banking account, perhaps suggesting that people are also putting themselves at risk by being complacent about the strength of the password they choose for their e-commerce activities.

Experts hope that by raising awareness of the risks and encouraging consumers to follow sensible security practices, the incidences of fraud will decrease.