The Risk of Online Shopping

A study by PayPal shows the incidents of online identity theft is tied to the attitude towards passwords. Computer users in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are subjected more to identity theft as a result:

“…Online consumers in Canada, the UK, and the U.S. are the most frequent victims of identity theft, twice the rate of France, Germany and Spain, according to a new study released by PayPal. However, with the holiday season fast approaching, three-quarters of online shoppers worldwide are concerned about online scams or identity theft. The research, conducted by Ipsos, examined online security fears and habits in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.”

link: Shopping online? Identity theft is still a risk, survey says

The expected increase in online shopping because of the economy will be matched by a similar increase in identity theft. Traditionally, the holiday season has been prime time for hackers. There is an increase in online shopping activity. Paired with the rush usually associated with the season, the advantage goes to the online thieves.

Catherine Forsythe