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DESPITE the dangers of online identity theft, research has found two-thirds
of Australians were more likely to share personal information with other
people on the internet than they would in person.
More than 50 per cent of Australians have provided three or more types of
personal details online to sites such as blogs, social networking sites,
shopping or auction sites, the survey by Symantec said.
The study also showed Australians typically had more than 10 online profiles
or virtual identities. These might include email, instant messenger, a
membership to a forum or a blog, through to a virtual persona for an online
game or Second Life.
The Symantec Identity Survey, released today to coincide with World Computer
Security Day, revealed 20 per cent of Australians believed their online
profile was closer to their "true self'' than their real-world identity.
It found the relative anonymity of the internet, which encouraged users to
be more open, also exposed them to more risk.
While 43 per cent of Australians believe online risks would never stop or
limit the way they interact online, the survey said.
"One of the key things is the social networking sites where people have a
select group of friends that can access their photos or profiles," David
Freer, Symantec consumer business Asia-Pacific and Japan vice-president
said. "What you have got to ask is 'who am I giving access to?' and 'do I
want to share all of the information I am putting up there?'"
He said people should consider how relevant it was to put information such
as their home address or date of birth online.
"Although you may control the initial network of people that are looking at
your data, you don't know whether people within that network are then going
to start sharing your information further."
Mr Freer said younger people aged 16 to 24 were particularly carefree
online.
"Young people are growing up with this online interaction and it is very
normal for them," he said. "They are more comfortable with taking the risk
because to them the relationships online are very real."
The study, which involved almost 600 Australians aged from 16 to 49, warned
predators and cyber criminals used fragmented pieces of information or
personal details (such as a real name, date of birth, phone number, email
address, physical address or photographs) to steal or misuse someone's
identity.
The survey, conducted by Woolcott Research on behalf of Symantec, found 66
per cent of respondents believed most people do not think about the possible
consequences of posting personal information online.
While 63 per cent of Australians have revealed their real name online and a
third also admitted to revealing their home address online. Some 29 per cent
have provided their bank details or credit card numbers to non-banking
websites.
Source: http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,22847582-15306,00
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