A new survey by ITRC, the Identity Theft Resource Center, shows that despite the growing popularity of online shopping and banking, the overwhelming majority of consumers are worried about the safety of the information they provide through these transactions. In fact, 87 percent of those who have engaged in online shopping or banking over the past 30 days are worried about having their credit card numbers stolen or their information exposed through a data breach.
The survey, part of ITRC’s effort to follow trends in “Consumer Concerns about Internet Transactions,” asked 500 respondents about specific online security concerns. More than three quarters of participants expressed concern about phishing emails, stolen passwords and usernames, and receiving spam email.
Just how safe are these transactions? Banks and retailers reassure consumers that it’s almost foolproof, but it appears that many consumers remain wary about banking and shopping online. The results of the survey clearly show that consumers are aware of the potential risk when they conduct transactions over the internet.