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Company News
Shoppers paying by bank card are still insufficiently security-conscious
Tue, 03 November 2009
Avira issues a warning against cybercrime as people do their Christmas shopping online: According to investigations by IT security specialist Avira, almost 30 percent of shoppers using bank cards and credit cards only have a rudimentary awareness of security precautions
Tettnang, 03 November 2009 – In a survey conducted on www.free-av.com in June 2009, IT security specialist Avira asked a total of 5,505 Internet users how careful they were when making payments using their cards. Feedback from users shows that almost 60 percent were acutely aware of the need for security, while around 30 percent of respondents are still an easy target for the criminals. A small proportion of users (621 respondents - a good 10 percent) avoid exposure to fraud by simply refusing to use the cashless payment options available.
27 percent of those surveyed (1,504 users) indicated that they were generally very careful when paying in shops, restaurants or gas stations and when withdrawing cash from ATMs. Some consumers are particularly careful when making payments with cards: 32 percent of respondents (1,784 users) claimed that they used their hand as a privacy shield when entering their PIN on the terminal.
Results show that 19 percent of users (1,044 respondents) are a lot less careful: According to their answers, they are quite unaware of possible security risks, whether shopping in the supermarket or making online purchases. A further 552 users revealed themselves to be similarly unaware of the risks: a considerable proportion of consumers - ten percent in all - indicated that they didn’t bother to take precautions when entering credit card or account data if they felt that there was no one looking.
“The threat is enormous when you consider that users will generally be completely unaware of spying software on their own computer. This category of malware includes so-called root kits. These register keyboard entries and log credit card numbers, PINs and TANs,” warns Travis Witteveen, Head of Sales & Marketing at Avira GmbH. “In recent years, the risks associated with the Internet have increased rather than declined. The only difference is that the public isn’t as aware of today’s malware as in the past. Modern spyware uses sophisticated stealth techniques to remain undetected for as long as possible, so that it can gather the maximum amount of data.”
Online purchases are particularly popular in the lead up to Christmas, making this a very lucrative time for cybercriminals. Avira advises all online shoppers to exercise caution when using their PIN numbers and other sensitive data and also urges them to use an established security software solution. Avira’s free AntiVir Personal offers basic protection against viruses, worms and Trojans. The Avira AntiVir Premium and Avira Premium Security Suite versions offer additional security, while the firewall and anti spam functions of the suite make it particularly effective in providing protection for online shopping and Internet banking transactions.
About Avira
Avira is a leading global provider of IT security solutions for professional and private use. With over twenty years of experience, the company is one of the pioneers in this field. As a foundation member of the initiative “IT Security made in Germany” (ITSMIG e.V.), Avira guarantees that it provides IT security products with no backdoors.
The German IT security expert is headquartered in Tettnang near Lake Constance and maintains several subsidiaries worldwide. Avira employs approximately 300 staff and makes a significant contribution towards the security of millions of private users through its free virus protection, Avira AntiVir Personal.
Domestic and international customers include well-known companies listed on global stock exchanges, educational establishments and government authorities. In addition to protecting the virtual environment, Avira promotes the Auerbach Foundation for greater protection and security in the real world. The Auerbach Foundation supports charitable and social projects, as well as art, culture and science.
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