Consumer Confidence in the Internet is Growing, According to Second Trend Micro Internet Confidence and Safety Survey
14 Maggio 2007 - 5:40PM
PR Newswire (US)
The Trend Micro February 2007 survey indicates an overall increase
in consumer confidence vs. August 2006, owing to perceived safety
in Germany, UK and Japan. CUPERTINO, Calif., May 14
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trend Micro Incorporated
(TSE:4704TSE:Nasdaq:TSE:TMIC), a leader in network antivirus and
Internet content security software and services, today announced
the results of its second Internet Confidence and Safety Survey
which is carried out twice a year and provides an overall
measurement of consumers' confidence and perceived safety of the
Internet. According to the survey, users who felt confident when
using the Internet increased from a confidence index of 39.0 to an
index of 39.9. However, while the overall confidence score had
increased, consumers in the US and France indicated that their
confidence had dropped from an index of 44.4 and 41.1 respectively
in August to 43.8 and 39 in February. The increase in confidence
was led by the UK, Germany and Japan, each of which demonstrated an
increase. Of these, the UK showed the most notable increase in
confidence, from 42.2 in August to 46 in February. The index
comprises a complex calculation based upon a proprietary collection
of confidence and behavior ratings. The survey also found that a
vast majority of consumers still use credit cards to make purchases
over the Internet and bank online. Worryingly, these results
indicate that in spite of the increasing governmental and media
attention given to cyber attacks such as identity theft and fraud,
consumers are still growing more confident about their online
safety. With the growth of web threats and the technologically
sophisticated tools malware creators have at their disposal,
consumers need to demonstrate a high level of caution when spending
time online. Other noteworthy findings, from the countries and
issues section of the February 2007 Internet Confidence and Safety
survey include: -- Less than half (45 percent) of the U.S.
respondents feel very safe when using Internet today; a drop of 6
percent from August 2006 to February 2007. Similarly, the
percentage of U.S. respondents who believe the Internet will be
much safer in the next 6 months also dropped by 6 percent from 32
percent in August 2006 to 26 percent in February 2007.
Correspondingly, from August 2006 to February 2007, significantly
fewer U.S. respondents participated in risky online behavior, such
as online banking, using credit cards to make purchases over the
Internet, downloading freeware/shareware and using public hotspots
for Wi-fi access. -- In the United Kingdom, the percentage of
respondents who reported infection of malware on their computers in
the past 6 months dropped dramatically by 12 percent from 43
percent in August 2006 to 31 percent in February 2007. Meanwhile,
only 17 percent of the Japanese respondents reported that their
computers had been infected by malware over the past 6 months; a
decrease of 6 percent from August 2006. "As a security vendor, it's
our job to stay one step ahead of malware such as Web threats to
ensure the protection of customers' on-the-go lifestyles," said
Lane Bess, general manager of Trend Micro consumer products and
services. "Trend Micro has recently introduced new products and
services to enable customers to take a more proactive approach to
their Internet security and allow us to extend communications to
customers that help them know how secure they truly are." Compiled
during February 2007, the Trend Micro Internet Confidence and
Safety survey is a unique report that takes place at regular six
monthly intervals, surveying 1500 consumers from 5 countries based
in 3 different continents. The 5 countries in which the research
took place were Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, Germany
and France. Trend Micro's Internet Confidence and Safety survey
analyzes consumer perception based on a number of indicators such
as how safe and confident consumers feel when using the Internet,
their view regarding the future safety of the Internet, how many
consumers have experienced actual infections during the past six
months, their confidence in their security software and an analysis
of their online internet activities. Additionally the research
includes a measure of consumer perception around security related
to mobile phone Internet usage. As the survey is regularly
compiled, it is expected to act as a continual barometer for
consumers' attitudes and perceptions about their personal security
as well as the overall security of the Internet. About Trend Micro
Incorporated Trend Micro Incorporated is a pioneer in secure
content and threat management. Founded in 1988, Trend Micro
provides individuals and organizations of all sizes with
award-winning security software, hardware and services. With
headquarters in Tokyo and operations in more than 30 countries,
Trend Micro solutions are sold through corporate and value-added
resellers and service providers worldwide. For additional
information and evaluation copies of Trend Micro products and
services, visit our Web site at http://www.trendmicro.com/
http://www.trendmicro.com/ . DATASOURCE: Trend Micro, Inc. CONTACT:
Mike Haro of Trend Micro Incorporated, +1-408-850-1069, or Web
site: http://www.trendmicro.com/
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