Most Indians unaware of security solns: study

BANGALORE, INDIA: Half of Indians internet users have little or no understanding of the online security solutions that are available to them, according to a new survey finding released by Norton.

The survey reveals that while over three quarters of Indians would give up US$1 million than grant strangers full access to their computers.

According to the Norton survey, online Indians spend an average of 58 hours a week (more than half of their waking hours) connected to the Internet. While almost everyone (92 percent) uses the Internet to check their emails, Indians are increasingly spending their time browsing the Web (12.9 hours/week) and socialising online (9.7 hours/week) among other activities including financial activities, which 81 percent conduct online.

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Indians seem to feel the need to stay connected online at all times. If they were to be cut off from the Internet, one in two Indians said they would start feeling Internet withdrawal within the first three hours, a Norton release said adding that Indians aware of online threats but lack knowledge of how to protect themselves.

 

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The release added that in light of this significant dependence on the Internet, the good news is Indians know they need online protection and have basic awareness around cybercrime and the threats online. However, 60 percent of Indians believe that a basic security solution or antivirus is all they need. . This belief that antivirus security is sufficient is disparate with the US$1 million value that 78 percent of Indians have placed on the information that can be accessed on their computers.

40 percent of India’s online community has declared that they value their financial information the most, followed by 35 percent who value their online accounts the most, including email and social networks.  Over a third of respondents (38 percent) cited protecting personal information as the main reason for using or considering using an Internet security solution and it’s encouraging to find that almost all (89 percent) Indians back up personal information like documents, pictures, contacts and music.

“Internet users in India clearly place a high value on their personal information, but many don’t have a comprehensive security solution in place to protect them from the rapidly evolving threats in the online world today,” said David Hall, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific, Norton. “As the owners of multiple connected devices in a country with growing Internet connectivity, there is a greater need for Indians to have strong, comprehensive security to protect the important information stored on their multiple devices and platforms be it PCs, Macs, mobile phones or tablets.”