broadband news

Broadband users in the dark over internet security

Broadband websites including email, bank accounts, social networking sites and online shopping stores frequently require passwords. But do you create original passwords each time or stick to what you know? If it’s the latter, you’re certainly not alone, according to a 2008 UK Internet Security Report conducted by the Get Safe Online campaign.
The study reveals 66% of broadband surfers use the same password for multiple websites. The research throws further statistics into the precarious mix, revealing 23% of broadband users have posted confidential information online and 17% have opened email attachments from an unknown source.
These happy-go-lucky actions leave broadband users vulnerable to broadband-savvy criminals and security problems. Here’s some statistics illustrating the level of broadband security breaches on the web:

• Roughly 36% admit to having been the victim of a virus attack
  
• 23% have fallen victim to phishing
  
• 16% to scam emails or websites
  
• 15% to identity theft
  
• 10% to a computer hack
  
• 6% have experienced online harassment/bullying

Despite the risks, many UK broadband users are in a bubble of blissful ignorance using the web. Approximately one third of broadband users spend between one and two hours a day online, and almost one in six (15%) spend three to four hours a day on their broadband. Only 4% stated their use as ‘rare’, while 3% do not have access to a computer at home.

Encouragingly, 85% of UK broadband users today have some form of virus protection software. The importance of internet protection does seem to be hitting home at one level with more than half (52%) updating their antivirus software in the last month, compared to just over a third (38%) two years ago.

24/11/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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