Security Survey Sees Differences 

Internet security vendor AVG has announced that a recent study it commissioned into cyber-crime in the UK found worrying levels of complacency.

Designed to provide an understanding of the differing behaviours and attitudes for women and men when it comes to cyber-crime, the study found some marked differences depending on sex including that almost 30 percent of male respondents gambled online.

Conducted online by TickBox.net over one week in October involving 1,403 men and women, the study found that males tend to believe they have cyber-theft protection under control while females are more cautious regarding levels of protection but continue to shop and bank online as much as the men.

Forty percent of men feel that more should be done to make people aware of how to avoid cyber-crime while one in every five males stating that they had experienced fraudulent e-mails. One in every three men had experienced some form of cyber-crime with only 18 percent changing their Internet usage habits as a result despite one in five admitting to feeling stupid about being a victim.

“Since instances of cyber-theft are about the same for both sexes, it shows that women need to familiarise themselves more with Internet security so that they can use the web with greater confidence,” said Larry Bridwell, Global Security Strategist for AVG.

“Men, on the other hand, need to be less macho and think twice about whether they have really done enough to protect themselves, especially when it comes to the amount of personal information they supply when making purchases and financial transactions online.”