Digital Journal — Every month, one in four Americans receives emails claiming to be from banks or other financial institutions. And according to a recent study, 70 per cent of Americans fall for the bait.
Almost everyone has seen the email scam where “phishers,” as they are called, ask customers to verify accounts by re-entering passwords or credit card information on legitimate-looking websites. This scam is called “phishing,” and a study done by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance found that seven out of 10 people who receive these emails are fooled into thinking they’re legit.
The study also found that 74 per cent of those surveyed use the Internet for security-sensitive transactions such as banking and online purchases, making them the perfect prey for phishers to tackle. Online shopping is expected to reel in about $26 billion (US) this year, with billions being spent in the remaining weeks before Christmas.
Many online shoppers lack the right protection to stop the infiltrating bottom-feeders. Of those surveyed, 81 per cent were missing at least one of three key basic security measures: updated anti-virus software, spyware protection and a secure firewall.
Despite this, 83 per cent of people said they believed they were safe from online threats.
Researchers conducted in-person interviews with more than 350 Internet users in the U.S. during September and October. Technical experts examined personal computers for security risks and looked at emails received by those households.
