F-Secure, the global leader in providing security as a service
through mobile operators and Internet Service Providers, 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
“It’s concerning to see that so many consumers believe their
antivirus definitions are up to date while not understanding how
frequently they need to be updated; this really shows why it’s
essential for consumers to make sure they acquire their security
from a reliable source and make sure it includes professional
service as well,” said Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at
F-Secure. “Email security certainly isn’t a new issue. Email
remains one of the most popular ways to spread malware, and users
understandably remain concerned that attachments may infect their
computers. While malware is still being spread via email
attachments, we’ve also seen an increase in the use of other
techniques, like ‘drive-by-downloads’, and it’s important that
consumers be aware that email attachments aren’t the only way
malware is spread. Security software should empower users to take
full advantage of the Internet and their email without worrying
about vulnerabilities or security risks – it should provide true
online wellbeing.”
The survey was carried out by a third party in January 2008
across 1,169 Internet users aged 20-40 across the US (225
respondents), Canada (228 respondents), the UK (227 respondents),
France (256 respondents) and Germany (224 respondents). F-Secure
asked respondents a series of basic online security questions and,
using a Likert scale, asked them to rate the extent to which they
were confident in the security of given online activities.
About F-Secure Corporation
F-Secure Corporation protects consumers and
businesses against computer viruses and other threats from the
Internet and mobile networks. F-Secure’s award-winning solutions
are available as a service subscription through more than 160
Internet service provider and mobile operator partners around the
world, making F-Secure the global leader in this market. The
solutions are also available as licensed products through thousands
of resellers globally. The company aspires to be the most
reliable security provider, helping make computer and smartphone
users’ connected lives safe and easy. This is substantiated by the
company’s independently proven ability to respond faster to new
threats than its main competitors. Founded in 1988, and
headquartered in Finland, F-Secure has been listed on the OMX
Nordic Exchange Helsinki 1999. The company has consistently been
one of the fastest growing publicly listed companies in the
industry. The latest news on real-time virus threat scenarios is
available at the F-Secure Data Security Lab weblog at
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
For more information, please contact:
F-Secure Corporation
Henrietta Malmari
Corporate Communicator
Tel. +358 9 2520 5315
Email:
firstname.lastname@f-secure.com
