To 60 per cent of Internet users from Russia, the US and Europe, of all the personal data stored online, exploitation of financial information is the biggest fear, said a report.

Information about passwords for online services comes a close second – 58 per cent of users are concerned about the loss or theft of this data by cybercriminals, added the survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a leading US-based market research firm.

Next, in descending order, come personal email and documents, address book contacts and different kinds of multimedia files.

Despite their obvious concern about data safety, however, a considerable number of users store information on poorly protected mobile devices. In particular, 15 per cent of respondents use their tablet to make credit card purchases online, work with electronic payment systems or to perform other financial operations; 12 per cent perform the same activities using their mobile phone.

About one third of all users (31 per cent) entrust their personal information to their home computer or laptop.

According to the results of the Harris Interactive survey, just under half of respondents (46 per cent) choose to back up all their devices, while 30 per cent of users resort to encrypting valuable information and another 32 per cent protect documents with a password.

These measures are obviously not sufficient in themselves, but coupled with high-quality antivirus software they can ensure a decent level of protection, the report said.

In this instance, the best option is to use a single security package with a full set of capabilities, such as Kaspersky Crystal, according to the report.

This protects against modern Internet threats and offers tools for data backup, file encryption and safe password storage. This all helps to protect important information against unauthorized access, theft or loss, the report said. – TradeArabia News Service