Online Safety: Do You Feel Safe Using the Internet?

When it comes to online safety security risks, credit card fraud, malware and privacy issues are a continual cause for concern. Here's what you need to know about keeping safe online.

Ginevra Benedetti
By Ginevra Benedetti
published

A study by BullGuard in 2012 revealed that nine out of ten people in the UK don't trust the internet. Do you feel safe online?

The study of 2,000 British internet users by the antivirus company revealed that despite 75 per cent of the country being online, millions are still cautious of banking, emailing and opening attachments.

One of the other big areas where UK internet users appear to be leaving themselves at risk is in accidently opening email attachments which have then infected their laptops or PC with a rogue virus.

One in six polled said they have no security measures in place to protect them from online threats.

As many as a third of people online claim to have had a bad experience when using the internet - be it a bad online shopping experience or, as 5 per cent claim, falling victim to ID fraud or cyber-bullying.

Cyber Bullying and Staying Safe Online

Cyber bullying online can take many forms and includes issues such as sending threatening or upsetting emails, instant messages or message forum posts. Social network websites such as Facebook are also commonly cited as places where cyber-bullying takes place on a regular basis.

Social websites such as Twitter and Facebook are a wealth of information for unscrupulous fraudsters to clone your identity.

For example, one in five Brits typically have their address posted somewhere for all to see, 41 per cent have their date of birth posted somewhere and as many as 14 per cent admit to storing their bank details online, too on web based email accounts such as Gmail and Hotmail, which could be prone to hacking.
Online Privacy

Online privacy is something anyone using social media sites such as Facebook should bear in mind. What you reveal online can leave you open to fraud and cyber attacks. If this is something that you think may affect you it is worth using online tools to check your credit rating at websites such as Credit Expert: http://www.creditexpert.co.uk/credit-rating.aspx.

Ginevra Benedetti
Ginevra Benedetti
Deputy Editor (Print)

Ginevra Benedetti has been the Deputy Editor of Ideal Home magazine since 2021. With a career in magazines spanning nearly twenty years, she has worked for the majority of the UK’s interiors magazines, both as staff and as a freelancer. She first joined the Ideal Home team in 2011, initially as the Deputy Decorating Editor and has never left! She currently oversees the publication of the brand’s magazine each month, from planning through to publication, editing, writing or commissioning the majority of the content.  

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