Online risks outweigh offline realities

Adults feel safer meeting a stranger in person than opening an email attachment.

Research by Webroot on ‘online vs. offline risks' also found that using a working laptop or computer without security is seen as riskier than leaving your own home or car unlocked. The survey of one,637 internet users aged 18 and above found that 81 per cent of respondents viewed an unknown email attachment as high-risk, but only 72 per cent felt that way a few face-to-face meeting.

It also found that 85 per cent of respondents said that using a working laptop or computer without security is high-risk, while the identical number said that sharing a password is almost as risky as driving and not using a seatbelt (87 per cent) or driving without car insurance (88 per cent).

Also, 75 per cent felt that the method of constructing a credit-card purchase from an unknown website was riskier than sharing personal information over the telephone (65 per cent).

Jacques Erasmus, chief information security officer at Webroot, said: “It is encouraging to look that folks are conversant in the dangers posed by online threats. Today's internet users share an increasing amount of private information online and cyber criminals target security loopholes and careless practices to hold out everything from credit fraud to identity theft.

“Our findings show that individuals are familiar with these risks and savvier concerning the importance of practising safe online behaviour.”

Meanwhile, 61 per cent of respondents said losing a laptop, tablet or netbook was in regards to the same as â€" or worse than â€" having your wallet or purse stolen.