Get Safe Online Week 2007: 12 to 16 November

London, 12 November, 2007 – Latest research from GetSafeOnline.org suggests that while people have become more vigilant when it comes to installing internet security software on their personal computers (PCs), what they actually do online is putting them at increased risk of internet-based crime.

According to the research, 88% of internet users now have some form of internet security software, such as a firewall, or up-to-date anti-spyware or anti-virus protection, on their PC or laptop. However, as new trends and technologies become more popular, many internet users are unwittingly exposing themselves to new areas of risk.

At Get Safe Online’s annual Internet Safety Summit in central London this morning, Cabinet Office Minister, Gillian Merron, is encouraging people to be more vigilant. She says: “The internet is a fantastic tool, whether you use it at home, in school, at your local library or at work. The risks we are highlighting today can be easily fixed and do not mean that people should stop using social networking sites and wireless networks. People simply need to take a few basic steps and simple precautions which they can find by going to www.getsafeonline.org to help keep themselves, their families and their businesses safe online.”

Social networking

The way in which people use social networking websites is one of the areas highlighted by Get Safe Online’s research. Over 10.8 million people across the UK are registered to a social networking site. Of these, one in four have posted confidential or personal information such as their phone number, address or email, on their online profile, making them vulnerable to identity fraud.

The research also found that 13% of social networkers have posted information or photos of other people online without their consent. This trend is strongest amongst younger users, with 27% of 18-24 year-olds admitting that they have posted information, photos of other people without their consent online.

Tony Neate, managing director of GetSafeOnline.org, advises: “The popularity of social networking and other sites means that we are much more open about ourselves and our lives online. Although some of these details may seem harmless, they actually provide rich pickings for criminals. Your date of birth and where you live is enough for someone to set up a credit card in your name. So whilst most people wouldn’t give this information to a stranger in real life, they will happily post it online where people they don’t know can see it.”

Wi-Fi

The increasing popularity of wireless (Wi-Fi) networks, if not properly secured, can also open up new avenues for criminals. Over 7.8 million people in the UK have left their own internet access unsecured and open for anyone to use.

At the Get Safe Online Summit, a ‘white hat’ from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) – the industry term for someone who uses their hacking skills and other technical online abilities for legitimate purposes – will be demonstrating how criminals manipulate the internet to commit offences, such as identity theft. He warns: “Most internet users don’t realise the risks involved in using Wi-Fi if you use an unsecured network. Criminals can use the network you are on to hijack your PC or laptop, meaning that they can see, steal, delete or even add files on your machine. They can do all of these things while you are using your PC without you even realising something is wrong.”

However, Neate adds: “The good news is that a few basic steps and simple precautions are enough to prevent these problems and stop online criminals in their tracks.”

The Get Safe Online campaign (www.getsafeonline.org), which is now in its third year, is the UK’s national internet security awareness campaign. A joint initiative between the Government, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, retail and finance, the campaign continues to educate, inform and raise awareness of internet security issues.

GetSafeOnline.org is sponsored by the Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), Home Office, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), eBay, Microsoft, HSBC, Symantec and Cable & Wireless.

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Notes to Editors

For further information please contact:

• Get Safe Online Press Office
• Telephone: 0207 344 1326
• Email: press@getsafeonline.org
• Web: www.getsafeonline.org/go/media
• Blog: www.getsafeonlineblog.org

A summary of the research follows below. Additional statistics relating to the impact of internet crime on smaller businesses (or ‘micro-businesses’) are available on request.

• Interviews, case studies and photography are available on request.
• Pre-recorded footage/b-roll, including the SOCA ‘whitehat’ demonstration, is also available on request.
• Places for media to attend the Get Safe Online Summit are available, subject to availability; please contact the press office for details.
• GetSafeOnline.org is sponsored by the Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), Home Office, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), eBay, Microsoft, HSBC, Symantec and Cable & Wireless. The initiative is aimed at consumers and very small businesses (or ‘micro-businesses’).
• The Get Safe Online Internet Safety Summit brings together stakeholders from Government, industry and the public sector to discuss internet crime and strategies for helping consumers and small businesses protect themselves online. The Summit kicks off Get Safe Online Week, which involves a series of free training sessions and roadshow events nationwide. For details of activity in each region, follow the link at www.getsafeonline.org.
• This week, Get Safe Online is encouraging people to visit the website – www.getsafeonline.org – to make sure they are up-to-date with the latest internet security measures.

Key findings of the Get Safe Online Report 2007 include:

Social Networking:

• One third of all internet users (34%) are registered to a social networking website, such as Facebook, MySpace or Friends Reunited. This includes 65% of 18-24 year olds and 49% of 25-34 year olds.
• 25% of all people using social networking sites have posted confidential or personal information such as their phone number, address or email, on their online profile. This includes 34% of 18-24 year olds and 30% of 25-34 year olds.
• 27% of 18-24 year olds using social networking sites have posted information or photos of other people without their consent online. 7% have passed on contact details from someone’s online profile to another person without their consent, and this is twice as likely to happen (14%) amongst 18-25 year olds.
• 15% do not use any privacy settings on social networking sites. Despite their willingness to pass on other people’s details without their consent, 18-25 year olds are the most security conscious in this respect, with 89% using some form of privacy setting. By contrast, 51% of those over 65 do not use a privacy setting.
• 29% have searched for an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend to find out what they are up to. Curiosity about ex-s is highest among 25-34 year olds, 39% of whom have looked up old flames.
• 29% of people have also used social networking sites to find out about colleagues, candidates or their boss.

Password use:

• Almost one in four (24%) use the same password for all websites. The problem is exacerbated amongst the over 65s, of whom 51% use a single password.
• 42% use 2-3 passwords for most sites
• 13% use the name of a family member or partner for their password. Females are twice as likely (17%) as males to do this.
• 10% use a pet’s name. Again, females are twice as likely to do this as males.

Wireless networks:

• 58% of internet users access wireless networks, equating to 19 million adults in the UK.
• Over 7.8 million internet users in the UK have left their own internet access unsecured.

Internet security software:

• 88% of internet users say they have some form of internet security software on their PC or laptop. 35-44 year olds are the most security conscious in this respect with 93% having some form of protection on their PC or laptop
• 80% have up-to-date anti-virus software; of these, 33% say they have updated it in the last week, and a further 16% in the last month.
• 80% have a firewall
• 70% have anti-spyware software

Other key findings:

• 16% of people say they know nothing about internet security. This is twice as likely amongst females (22%) than males (10%), and amongst 55-64 year olds (29%). A further 40% say they know the basics of internet security, but not sure they’re always safe when using the internet.
• Younger people feel most at risk from internet crime – 23% of 18-24 year olds said that it is what they are most at risk from.
• Almost one in three internet users have not done their banking online due to their fears about safety and security.
• 24% of internet users have opened an email attachment from an unknown source, rising to 36% amongst 18-24 year olds.
• 36% of internet users say they, a friend or member of their family has been a victim of a computer virus. A further 9% have had their PC hacked into.
• The average estimated financial loss as a result of online crime incidents is £541.

Research was conducted by ICM on behalf of GetSafeOnline.org, interviewing a sample of 2,013 adults over the age of 18 in the UK.