Avira Survey Shows 50 Percent of People Are Concerned About Banking Online
One out of every three users have chosen not to access financial accounts online
Tettnang, November 11, 2010 – IT security expert Avira conducted a survey of computer users worldwide in September which showed that almost 50 percent of respondents admit to being wary of online banking, while one in five users feel secure while banking online. One out of every three users have chosen not to access financial accounts online.
In the survey, which was posed to Avira’s 100 million customers worldwide, a random sampling of users responded to the online survey asking if they trust online banking or if they have concerns about security while accessing information online. There were 3,127 responses which broke down in the following manner:
- 20.5% - Of course, I feel secure.
- 48.5% - I do online banking, but I am concerned about the increase of Internet crime.
- 31% - I never do online banking, due to security concerns and instead go in person to the bank.
“It’s a good sign to learn that almost half of the people we polled at least had some concerns with banking online and eye opening that almost one out of three just didn’t practice online banking in any form whatsoever,” said Sorin Mustaca, data security expert of Avira. “This proves that financial institutions have a long way to go before they persuade most of their customers to trust doing business online. The reason for this lack of trust comes from the fact that almost all banks have been targets of phishing attacks and other security threats. In addition, the software security industry has to do more in this area to ensure safety online. We must give to all Internet users the freedom to do whatever they want to do without fear.
Mustaca says that online freedom should come through education and by using reliable security products. He offers some basic tips to stay safe while online:
- Always take great care when opening attachments in emails
- Do not visit sites which you don’t know or have a bad reputation
- Don’t install programs coming from unknown sources
- Never, ever give your financial details as a response to any email
- Be sure to install an antivirus solution and make sure it is updated regularly
- Make sure your computer’s operating system is regularly updated
