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No fear of data theft: Internet users go shopping in the Net without worries
Wed, 12 December 2007
40 per cent of Internet users are not worried about the security of their data when online shopping. However, one in six people do not buy online because they are afraid of data abuse.
Tettnang, 12 December 2007 – Purchase with your mouse instead of in the crowded shopping mall: People are seduced to buy presents from the Internet, especially at Christmas. More than two thirds of all Internet users (71 per cent) use online shops and auction platforms without considering the security on their PC. Avira has established these results in its latest security survey called ‘Be honest, do doubts on security keep you away from buying things online? This was published on the website www.free-av.com from the German IT security expert and 2,731 visitors filled in this survey in November.
Online shopping is not only popular because it is stress-free: Auction houses attract people with bargains and every big store has its own Internet ordering service. A mouse click is all you have to do to buy whatever you are looking for – the only question that remains to answer is: How safe is the is it? 15 per cent of all Internet users are concerned about this and refuse to buy things from the Web, because they are afraid that their personal data could be abused and absolutely don’t want to disclose their credit card details. One fourth of all online shoppers only pay through secure online payment services, while 18 per cent order on account. Close to one third (29 per cent) of all participants don’t buy anything on the Internet as a rule, and half of them because they are afraid of data abuse.
'The difference between a secure and an insecure website is that on the secure one data is encrypted when being transmitted', explains Tjark Auerbach, founder and CEO of Avira. 'When making an online purchase, the purchaser enters his credit card number, which is transferred in an encrypted form and decoded as soon as it arrives to the supplier.' The most simple recognition characteristic of a ciphered communication is the beginning of the URL code. If https:// appears in the address bar instead of http://, it means that the data transmission to this website is encrypted. Another indication is a small lock that appears on the bottom right side of the browser window. However, Auerbach warns against an erroneous belief. 'You should also act cautiously if the transfer is encrypted, as https pages are not always reliable. Behind them there could be a phishing page used by the criminals to retrieve passwords and credit card numbers in an encrypted form.' The security expert advices the following: 'Online purchasers should pay attention to the digital signature to be absolutely safe and never settle payments on insecure websites. Furthermore, it is advised to have updated security software when performing an online purchase just as with all the other areas of Internet use. The best protection is achieved with a combination of virus protection, anti-spyware and a firewall in conjunction with an element of mistrust by the user.
About Avira
Avira is a worldwide leading supplier of self-developed security solutions for professional and private use. With more than twenty years of expe¬rience, the company is one of the pioneers in this field.
The security expert has several locations in Germany and partnerships in Europe, Asia and America. At its headquarters in Tettnang near Lake Constance, Avira is one of the region’s largest employers with more than 180 employees. Worldwide more than 250 persons are employed and their work regularly wins awards. Avira AntiVir Personal, used by millions of private users, represents a significant contribution to security.
Avira’s national and international customers include renowned corporations listed on the stock exchange but also educational institutions and public authorities. In addition to protection of the virtual environment, Avira also provides for more protection and security in the real world by supporting the Auerbach Foundation. Established by the founder of the company, the Auerbach Foundation promotes charitable and social projects as well as the arts, culture and science.
Press contact:
LEWIS Global PR
Elisabeth Rothbart
Baierbrunner Str. 15
D-81379 München
Telephone: +49 (0) 89 1730 19 33
Fax: +49 (0) 89 1730 19 99
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