The Internet has changed the world. It has made every connected citizen a neighbor, whether they are next door or on the other side of the globe.

Over the past 20 or more years, the Internet has allowed worldwide cooperation and communication. There is no doubt that the Internet has enabled businesses to expand beyond the borders of their towns, cities and countries. The ability to organize has empowered the powerless and brought accountability to the powerful.

However, the very nature of the Internet’s ability to connect all of us makes it the world’s most powerful delivery service for scammers and criminals. The Internet is complex and for too long “safe surfing” has been a burdening responsibility for online consumers.

New polling from the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) cites the universal need for automated cybersecurity solutions that proactively protects consumers and does not require every citizen to fully understand the intricacies of every cyber threat.

During the first week of November, the GCA surveyed consumers across the United States (1,019), France (602), Germany (633) and United Kingdom (611) to better determine their attitudes and experiences with online security and privacy.

Key findings include: 

The fear is real
The fear of being scammed online trumps other risks in the physical world causing consumers excessive worry and even loss of sleep.

United States

• 35% have stopped an online purchase because of security fears
• The fear of getting scammed online causes 12% of consumers to lose sleep
• 27% said the fear of online scams causes excessive worry
• Only 16% of consumers fear a burglar breaking into their home more than an online hacker stealing personal information
• Only 11% of consumers think that their mobile phone is more secure than the front door of their house

United Kingdom

• Nearly half (45%) have stopped an online purchase because of security fears
• Nearly one in four (24%) said the fear of online scams causes excessive worry
• Only 12% of consumers think that their mobile phone is more secure than the front door of their house

France

• More than one-third (38%) of French consumers have stopped an online purchase because of security fears
• The fear of getting scammed online causes more than one in every 10 consumers (13%) to lose sleep
• 18% said the fear of online scams causes excessive worry
• Only 17% of consumers fear a burglar breaking into their home more than an online hacker stealing personal information
• Only 8% of consumers think that their mobile phone is more secure than the front door of their house

Germany

• 55% have stopped an online purchase because of security fears
• The fear of getting scammed online causes one in every five (21%) consumers to lose sleep
• 41% said the fear of online scams causes excessive worry
• Only 20% of consumers fear a burglar breaking into their home more than an online hacker stealing personal information
• Only 13% of consumers think that their mobile phone is more secure than the front door of their house 

Consumers need help and they know it
Consumers know they need help but aren’t sure how to get it. They know that their online behaviors have or could cause them harm, but the cybersecurity burdens that we place on consumers are excessive. It is asking too much for them to have to keep track of every type of safety and security issue.

United States

• Only half of all consumers can determine if an online shopping site is legitimate and safe
• 60% of consumers have had their computer infected with malware
• 50% have visited a website that they feared could do harm to their computer or device
• 77% of U.S. consumers have mistyped a website address into their browser and been taken to a different site
• 68% have clicked on a link in an email that has taken them somewhere different than they expected
• Only 13% have changed DNS settings on their computer and just 11% on their wireless router

United Kingdom

• One in three consumers (36%) cannot determine if an online shopping site is legitimate and safe
• 50% of consumers have had their computer infected with malware
• Nearly half (49%) of U.K. consumers have visited a website that they feared could do harm to their computer or device
• 76% of U.K. consumers have mistyped a website address into their browser and been taken to a different site
• 60% have clicked on a link in an email that has taken them somewhere different than they expected
• Only 16% have changed DNS settings on their computer and just 12% on their wireless router

France

• One in three consumers (37%) cannot determine if an online shopping site is legitimate and safe
• 55% of consumers have had their computer infected with malware
• One in four (28%) French consumers have visited a website that they feared could do harm to their computer or device
• One in three (37%) French consumers have mistyped a website address into their browser and been taken to a different site
• 50% have clicked on a link in an email that has taken them somewhere different than they expected
• Only 10% of French consumers say they can stay ahead of the latest online threats

Germany

• Only half of all German consumers can determine if an online shopping site is legitimate and safe
• Nearly half (47%) of consumers have had their computer infected with malware
• 40% have visited a website that they feared could do harm to their computer or device
• 47% of German consumers have mistyped a website address into their browser and been taken to a different site
• 54% have clicked on a link in an email that has taken them somewhere different than they expected
• Only 24% of German consumers say they can stay ahead of the latest online threats
• Only 15% have changed DNS settings on their computer and just 16% on their wireless router

Security without privacy is no security at all
Consumers are not willing to sacrifice privacy for security. They want solutions that will keep them safe and secure while protecting information about their online and offline habits.

United States

• Only 16% of consumers are comfortable using a free cybersecurity product in exchange for sharing personal information about online habits
• Only 4% of consumers have given their ISP permission to track or sell their Internet activity to marketers or advertisers

United Kingdom

• Only 16% of consumers are comfortable using a free cybersecurity product in exchange for sharing personal information about online habits
• Only 4% of consumers have given their ISP permission to track or sell their Internet activity to marketers or advertisers

France

• Less than one in four (23%) consumers are comfortable using a free cybersecurity product in exchange for sharing personal information about online habits
• Only 6% of consumers have given their ISP permission to track or sell their Internet activity to marketers or advertisers

Germany

• Only 18% of consumers are comfortable using a free cybersecurity product in exchange for sharing personal information about online habits
• Only 8% of consumers have given their ISP permission to track or sell their Internet activity to marketers or advertisers

About the survey
Zogby Analytics was commissioned by GCA to conduct an online survey of adults in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.