- 1 in 10 people provide personal bank details in response to unauthorised email requests
- PC World launches new and exclusive security software and in-store ‘cyber crime clinics’
Nearly 50% of Brits have fallen victim to fraudulent online bank transactions in the last 6 months, with an average value of £50, according to results of a study into online fraud released today by PC World.
PC world questioned over 4,000 customers to look into online shopping habits and the threat of Cybercrime. Over a quarter revealed they had had unauthorised transactions leave their bank accounts and nearly 20% had had unauthorised money go in!
The findings revealed that a lax approach to online security is leaving many Brits targets for online crime. Despite 6 out of 10 (62%) of participants in the study regularly shopping or banking online an alarming one in five (19%) currently use no form of anti virus software, leaving them completely unprotected from Cybercrime.
In response to the findings, PC World is to launch an exclusive version of Norton 360 V4 internet security software and will trial Cybercrime Clinics at its stores in the most affected areas around the country. The clinics will be a dedicated area in-store where customers can get free online fraud prevention advice from specially trained experts. If successful, the trial is to be rolled out across stores nationwide.
Risky shopping habits
The study revealed that shoppers are regularly divulging sensitive financial information online without taking precautions.
The majority (70 %) provide their bank details online more than once a week but 17% are giving out their details to websites up to 10 times a month for goods and services without taking any measures to check the authenticity of the websites. 15% of shoppers revealed they had been a victim of a phishing scam where internet users are lured into providing sensitive financial details on fake websites.
When questioned, the respondents reveal that they regularly indulge in online behaviours that are known to facilitate Cybercrime, including clicking on links in pop-ups (32%), clicking on links in emails from unknown senders (31%), and purchasing products or services direct from an unauthorised pop-up (9%).
One in ten applicants (10%) has gone as far as to provide bank details in response to an email request.
Cybercrime prevention
Despite the majority (70 per cent) of respondents voicing concerns over the risks of Cyber crime, the study revealed that online shoppers are taking few measures to guard against it.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) revealed they had never purchased internet security software and one in ten admitted they don’t check the expenditure on their bank statements despite shopping regularly online.
Helping shoppers protect against cyber crime
In response to the research, PC World has teamed up with leading internet security provider Symantec to develop an exclusive version of its latest Norton 360 internet security software, Norton 360 V4 Gold. The software provides free access to a number of additional security applications and services. These include ThreatFire, a powerful behaviour-based protection against both known and unknown viruses and software that has been specially adapted for netbooks and mobile devices. Norton 360 V4 Gold is available exclusively at PC World and Currys stores nationwide from Thursday 18th March priced £59.99.
To help online shoppers get the most out of this new software and protect against the risk of Cybercrime PC World is to host a series of Cyber Crime clinics at its stores around the UK, in London, Birmingham and Nottingham. Customers will be able to get free advice on the new software and other simple Cybercrime prevention methods.
Alan Dardis, Head of Trading – Software – at PC World says: “We aim to protect our customers in everything we do online but the number of people affected by Cybercrime, and in particular the lack of precautions some consumers have in place to protect themselves from it, are a cause for concern. We hope that through a combination of this new software and the in-store Cyber Crime Clinics we will help internet users not to fall prey to this online menace.”
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For more information please contact:
Nathan Kemp 0207 543 4670 nathank@talkpr.com
James Fick 0207 544 3735 james.fick@talkpr.com
About PC World
- PC World is Britain’s largest specialist chain of computing superstores
- The superstores offer more than 5,000 product lines including extensive ranges of PCs, laptops, printers, software, peripherals and accessories from the major brands, as well as many PC World exclusive products
- In-store PC Clinics offer on the spot advice and service. Component Centres offer a ‘one-stop shop’ for customers with advanced technical knowledge, providing a vast choice of PC components and upgrade products at competitive prices
- In 2007, PC World won Retail Week’s Product Innovation of the Year award, for its Data Recovery service
- Every PC World store has an in-store business centre staffed by experienced business specialists
- They offer local companies face-to-face help and advice with choosing the best IT solutions
- There are 157 stores in the UK and 10 in the Republic of Ireland.