Consumer attitudes toward internet security across Europe and North America

F-Secure today announced the results of its first annual Online Wellbeing Survey. This third-party survey of Internet users aged 20-40 in the US, Canada, the UK, France and Germany, tested respondents’ knowledge of online security issues (their “security IQ’) and gauged their confidence in the safety of basic online activities. The results revealed that while most respondents have security software installed on their PCs, many remain unsure that their email is free of malware and other threats. The survey also showed that few consumers realize how frequently their security software’s antivirus definitions need updating, and most respondents revealed a misplaced confidence that their definitions were up-to-date.

The survey showed that Internet users in North America and Europe had a basic understanding of online security issues, but still don’t have confidence in the security of basic online activities. While the results revealed similar levels of security knowledge and online confidence across those surveyed, German consumers showed markedly less confidence in the security of e-commerce and online banking than respondents in other markets. German respondents also revealed a significantly better understanding of how frequently anti-virus definitions need to be updated.

F-Secure’s findings included the following:

Understanding Antivirus Protection

Though most respondents believed that their antivirus software is up to date with the latest definitions, few correctly identified the frequency with which these definitions must be updated, suggesting a misplaced confidence. However, a majority of respondents correctly indicated that online security requires more than just antivirus protection. On average:

• 19% of respondents understood that antivirus definitions need to be updated many times per day
• German respondents scored highest on this issue, with 31% answering correctly, nearly twice other markets surveyed
• 76% of respondents were confident their security software’s antivirus definitions were up to date
• 73% of respondents recognize that their computers can become infected with malware if they rely on antivirus protection alone, even if their security software’s antivirus definitions are up to date

Email Security

Consumers across all markets showed low confidence in the safety of basic email activities. On average:

• Only 10% of respondents are confident that they can open email attachments without infecting their computers with malware
• Confidence was lowest in the US, at 7%
• Just 9% of respondents are confident that they can open links sent via email without infecting their computers with malware
• Confidence was highest in the UK, at 15%, and lowest in France, at 4%
• 24% of respondents are confident that they are safe from malware sent via email
• Confidence was highest in Germany, at 31%, and lowest in Canada at 17%

General Knowledge of Online Risks

The survey revealed that respondents have a basic understanding of online risks and the ways in which their computers could become infected with malware.  Expectedly, the great majority of consumers reported having security software installed on their computers. However, with their understanding of online risks, respondents expressed a lack of confidence in the security of basic online activities. On average:

• 95% of respondents have security software installed on their computers
• 73% of respondents recognize that computers running antivirus software with up-to-date virus definitions can still become infected with malware
• 88% of respondents realize that malware can add their computers to a botnet used to send spam without their knowledge
• 16% of respondents are confident that files they download from websites are free from malware
• 18% of respondents are confident that they are safe from malware spread by Web sites

Consumers showed generally low confidence in their ability to identify phishing scams. On average:

• 37% of respondents were confident they could spot a phishing email
• Confidence was lowest in France, at 26%
• 27% of respondents were confident they could identify a phishing site
  Confidence was lowest in France, at 21%

Perceived Security of Online Transactions

Respondents showed greater confidence in the safety of online banking than in the security of credit cards used for online shopping. In both of these areas, German consumers reported significantly less confidence than other respondents.

• 50% of respondents in the US, Canada, the UK, and France felt their credit cards were secure when shopping online, in contrast to:
• 15% of respondents in Germany felt their credit cards were secure when shopping online
• 65% of respondents in the US, Canada, the UK, and France were confident in the security of their online banking, whereas:
• 28% of respondents in Germany were confident in the security of their online banking