Survey: Consumers Not Confident About Internet Security

Trend Micro announced Jan. 2 that it has released the findings from its new research study that measures what consumers think of their Internet security.

Trend Micro, a security software provider based in Cupertino, Calif., released the Internet Confidence and Safety survey that evaluates consumers attitudes about Internet-related concerns such as how safe they feel when using the Internet, their opinions regarding the future of Internet security, their experience with Internet infections and their confidence when it comes to security software.

"As a security vendor, its our job to stay one step ahead of the malware and Web threats to ensure our customers protection," Lane Bess, general manager of Trend Micro consumer products and services, said in a company release.

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The study, which was gathered in September 2006 and will take place at six month intervals in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, reported that 51 percent of consumers are not confident that their Internet security software is protecting their system.

The study also found that in the while 51 percent of respondents in the United States feel that the Internet is very safe, while 32 percent feel that the Internet will be less safe in six months.

The new research study from Trend Micro concluded that consumers take part in what is considered risky online behavior by participating in online banking, using credit cards to buy things and downloading freeware or shareware.

The research study also found the following:

In Germany, 43 percent of the respondents think that the Internet is very safe while 24 percent of the respondents believe that the Internet will be less safe in six months

In Internet security, how critical is critical? Click here to read more.

The study will continue to be conducted and will measure consumers attitudes and beliefs about their personal security and the security of the Internet as a whole, the company said.

"Its our job to regularly communicate with our customers regarding their level of security, in a way that is meaningful to them, so that they know how secure they truly are," Bess said.

Check out eWEEK.coms Security Center for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at Ryan Naraines eWEEK Security Watch blog.

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