Avira Security Web Survey Finds 40% Confident That No Damaging Information About Them Exists, While 36% Have No Clue

Tettnang/München, Germany, July 5, 2011 – A recent survey of its customers conducted by Avira and Ruflotse found that an almost equal number of respondents claim no negative information exists about them on the Internet while the other half has no idea if damaging info exists and doesn’t keep tabs on their online reputation.

A survey question was presented to Avira’s 100 million customers worldwide during May, 2011: Be honest; is there any unpleasant or potentially damaging information about you on the Internet?

• 36% – No idea, I've never monitored whether anything bad about me exists.
• 15% – Yes, unfortunately. If I knew how to do it, I would delete the information right away.
• 6% – Yes, but I don't really care. It doesn't bother me.
• 4% – Not any longer - I erased all the information.
• 40% – No, there is no negative information about me on the Internet.

1,555 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 2.49 percent.

“This survey highlighted the two main groups of Internet users: those that care about their online reputation and those that don’t bother to keep track,” said Travis Witteveen, COO Market & Operations from Avira. “It’s critical to know what information exists about you online because if it’s negative it can damage your reputation and not knowing isn’t much of an excuse in this generation of instant information.”

Avira and Ruflotse offer these tips to stay safe online:

1. Personal Information: Less is best! – Do not make all information about you available online or on any social media site such as address, city, telephone, friends, preferences, relatives, etc. - If this information is freely available, someone with a little luck could theoretically impersonate you even on most secure websites since the questions asked to retrieve a password are usually related to this type of information.
    
2. Passwords
   • Don't use the same password on all the social networking websites.
   • Do not use the same password for your email address and a website or instant messenger solution.
   • Never keep emails containing passwords in your email account folders since if your email account is compromised, then those other accounts will be easy pickings.
      
3. Monitor your account: With monitoring services like Ruflotse Protect Plus, users can monitor their own names as well as their children's names and are routinely updated on new entries on the Internet.

О компании Avira

Avira является всемирным поставщиком антивирусного программного обеспечения и IT-решений по информационной безопасности для домашних пользователей и организаций. За плечами компании более 25 лет опыта и более 100 миллионов клиентов. Флагманский продукт компании Avira AntiVir известен своей исключительной надежностью и практически непрерывной серией наград VB100. Как один из основателей ассоциации “IT Security made in Germany” (ITSMIG e.V.) Avira является единственным поставщиком антивирусного ПО который гарантирует защиту пользовательских данных от доступа или шпионского вторжения со стороны государства или третьих лиц.

В дополнение к онлайн-защите, основатель и CEO компании Avira содействует процветанию офлайнового мира. Его фонд Auerbach Foundation поддерживает благотворительные и социальные проекты в области искусства, культуры и науки. Для получения дополнительной информации, пожалуйста, зайдите на www.avira.com или примите участие в дискуссиях, посвященных вопросам безопасности, на www.facebook.com/avira.