Eurobarometer have released a survey conducted on behalf of the European Commission. The survey has a major focus on cybercrime and EU citizens? understandings and concerns when it comes to browsing, sharing information and making payments online. The survey was carried out on 27,000 people across the EU member states.
So where are we all at when it comes to using the internet in our day to day lives for specific functions such as online shopping and online banking?
The European Commission have said there is ?a clear link between being well informed and feeling confident online? as results showed that more than half of those who were confident in their ability to bank or shop online also said they felt well informed about cybercrime.
?While ever more people are making the most out of the Internet and benefit from the digital economy, it is not surprising that security of personal information and online payments top the list of our concerns. What is more surprising is that only half of Europeans take effective measures to protect themselves from cybercrime.?
Cecilia Malmstr?m, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs
The Figures
59% of EU respondents complained they did not feel well informed about the risks of cybercrime, while 38% listed themselves as very or fairly well informed. Should cybercrime awareness and online responsibility and behavior be taught in EU schools? Considering how much time people now spend online, and the increasing numbers of people shopping online, are we as educated as we should be in order to protect our data online?
- 89% of respondents avoid disclosing personal information online
- 74% believer the risk of becoming a cybercrime victim has increased
- 59% of people in Germany are concerned about identity theft
- 59% overall don?t feel well informed about the risks of cybercrime
- 53% have not changed any of their online passwords in the last year
- 40% are concerned about somebody misusing their personal data
- 49% of UK citizens have installed antivirus software
- 38% of respondents are concerned about the security of online payments
- 29% don?t feel confident about using the internet for tasks like banking or purchases
- 16% of people in the whole of Europe, and 21% in the UK, have changed settings in browsers and in online social media to improve security
- 12% of EU internet users have experienced online fraud
- 8% have fallen victim to identity theft?
UK citizens are the most concerned about the security of online payments
Over half of UK Internet users are worried about the security of?online payments, the highest percentage of the EU member states surveyed.
56% of UK respondents said it was a concern for them, while the EU average was at just 38%. But this fear may be a legitimate one considering that more than 1 in 10 UK internet users had been a victim of identity theft and a fifth reported receiving emails fraudulently requesting money and personal data. Because of these worries, 21% of people surveyed had reduced the amount of online banking they do and 16% changed their shopping habits by decreasing the number of online transactions they carried out.
However the UK Payments Association reassured internet users, stating, ?The vast majority of online businesses are honest and legitimate and comply with their obligations to carefully protect and securely dispose of cardholder information.?
EU Anti-Cybercrime Initiatives
Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed to set up a European Cybercrime Centre in 2013 to protect European citizens and businesses against increasing risks of cyber-threats. The European Cybercrime Centre will focus on illegal online activities especially focusing efforts on attacks targeting e-banking and other online financial activities.
The proposed centre would also aim to find more efficient ways to protect social network profiles from e-crime infiltration and further assist in the fight against online identity theft and cyber-attacks affecting critical infrastructure and information systems in Europe, among other areas.
The ?EC3?, as it?s being referred to, is expected to begin operating in January of the coming year. Its establishment is already underway at The Hague and about 30 full time positions will be created from the new centre.
?Cybercriminals must not be allowed to disrupt our use of the Internet. The more we know about the risks and how to protect ourselves, the more we can truly maximise our digital lives?,
Cecilia Malmstr?m, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs
Stay up to date with online payments and security news. Follow TransactionAge on twitter ? @TransactionAge
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