Public Knowledge Of Online Threats

The UK public is largely ignorant of the threats they face on the Internet, according to recent research conducted by MORI on behalf of StreamShield. Just 16% of the public has heard of the term 'key loggers' -- malicious programs that record confidential password details -- and only 24% had heard of the term 'phishing' -- bogus emails purporting to be from one's bank asking for account information, with the intention of stealing funds.

The research also reveals that a third (34%) of the British public have been a victim of a computer virus, 36% received excessive spam and 21% had experienced images they found to be 'offensive'. Less threatening programs such as spyware which track Internet site visits and adware which make 'pop up' adverts appear are still a significant problem with 16% and 11% of the population respectively having knowingly been infected.

Female PC and internet users are less aware of online threats and are less likely to succumb to threats such as viruses and receive junk in their inboxes than male users. In every category surveyed, women experience fewer difficulties when online. For example, 46% of men reported that their PC had been infected with a virus compared with 38% of women, and 50% of men experienced excessive spam versus 38% of women. Men also experience more unwanted pop up ads, with 74% reporting this compared with 69% of women.

The research went on to ask the respondents who, if anyone, they think is responsible for educating people about threats on the Internet. The public strongly believe this responsibility lays with the Internet service providers (ISPs) with 59% citing it as their duty. Parents (46%), the Government (40%) and schools (39%) also scored highly, with 40% saying it was up to the individual to educate themselves.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a sample of 1,005 adults across Britain, aged 16+ from 5-7 August 2005. Interviews were conducted by telephone using Random Digit Dialling. No incentives were offered to respondents. Data has been weighted to match the known population profile.