Studies indicate even savvy computer users take unnecessary risks online.
While most computer users consider online privacy to be of extreme importance, many do little or nothing to protect themselves, according to a recent study from the Ponemon Institute. Meanwhile, another recent study shows some of the most tech-savvy cities in America also rank among the riskiest for cybercrime.
The Ponemon study reveals that Americans are particularly lax when it comes to the amount and type of personal information they share on social media sites. Although more than 80 percent of respondents expressed concern about their security while using social media, more than half of these same individuals admitted they do not take any steps to actively protect themselves.
Remarkably, 90 percent of respondents were under the impression that using social media sites posed no risk, and 60 percent weren't even sure if the social media provider was able to protect their identity. Approximately 40 percent admitted sharing their physical home address through social media applications.
“The study results are extremely telling, especially about measures that users take, or fail to take, in order to protect their identity while using social networks,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute.
Online risk is particularly high in some cities regarded as hotspots of technology innovation and knowledge, according to a separate study from Symantec’s Norton product group. Seattle, Boston and Washington D.C. ranked as the riskiest cities in America for cybercrime, with San Francisco; Raleigh, N.C.; Atlanta; Minneapolis; Denver, Austin, Texas; and Portland, Ore., rounding out the top 10.
Symantec, which partnered with Sperling's BestPlaces to come up with rankings for the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, said the survey demonstrates that even skilled and experienced Internet users are at risk when it comes to cybercrime and online insecurity. Norton Internet safety advocate Marian Merritt noted that cybercrime is generally on the rise everywhere, affecting one in five online shoppers and costing Americans $560 million in 2009 due to online fraud.
“With more people than ever relying on the Internet to stay in touch, shop and pay their bills, feeling confident and secure in our information-driven world is vital,” Merritt said. “This study highlights the cities most at risk of cybercrime and reminds individuals, families and businesses across the country of the hazards they face each time they go online.”
The rankings relied on data from Symantec’s Security Response team for factors such as the number of malicious attacks, infected machines and spam-generating zombie computers per capita. Sperling's contributed data on the prevalence of computer ownership, Internet use and potentially risky online activities, including online banking and online shopping.
The report noted a clear correlation between the number of public Wi-Fi hotspots and the incidence of cybercrime. San Francisco tops the list for riskiest online behavior and highest number of Wi-Fi hotspots per capita. Atlanta residents experience the most cyber attacks and potential infections. Minneapolis and Portland are near the top for risky online behavior, while Denver and Austin score high across the board.
At the other end of the spectrum, Detroit residents were less likely to participate in risky online behavior compared to other cities in the study, and it also ranked low in cybercrime, access to the Internet, expenditures on computer equipment, and wireless Internet access.
“Despite people’s familiarity with technology and the Internet, this study shows that everyone is exposed to a certain level of risk when they are online,” said Bert Sperling, founder and researcher of Sperling’s Best Places. “No matter where you live — be it Seattle or Detroit — it’s important to be vigilant in everyday online behavior in order to protect yourself against cybercrime of all types.”
ProtectMyID.com, which sponsored the Ponemon Institute study, offers these suggestions to help users guard their personal information and reduce their exposure to cybercrime:
