IBM Survey: Consumers Think Cybercrime Now Three Times More Likely
Than Physical Crime

Changing Nature of Crime Leads to Significant Behavior-Changes


ARMONK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/25/06 -- More Americans anticipate
falling victim to a cyber attack rather than a physical crime, reports
a recent IBM survey of U.S. adults. And, despite the convenience and
flexibility that online transactions offer, 37 percent of Americans
will not provide credit card information online.


Surveying almost 700 participants that have Internet access at work or
home, IBM reveals that, in the next twelve months, more than three
times the number of respondents think it is more likely they will be
the victim of a cybercrime (ie, attacked through networked devices
such as computers, ATMs, mobile phones, PDAs, etc.) than a physical
crime.


This comes as those respondents report that over the last 12 months,
incidents of these cybercrimes are already on par with physical crime.
Six percent of respondents purport to have been the victim of a
cybercrime within the past 12 months; while only a handful more report
having fallen victim to physical crimes (seven percent). One percent
were unsure whether they had been the victim of a cybercrime.


Based on the survey, 70 percent of online shoppers will buy from a
trusted Web site, while more than half of Americans are "very
concerned" or "concerned" to buy from an unknown online retailer. In
addition, one out of three Americans are "very concerned' or
"concerned" about banking online - either to make a transaction or pay
a bill. As a result of these fears, 75 percent of Americans are
already taking precautionary measures to protect themselves. The top
reason for taking these precautions is the threat of identity theft -
reported by 43 percent of respondents. Other reported reasons include
loss of money (24 percent) and harm to credit rating (13 percent).


"As much as consumers have adopted and embraced technology, they are
also aware that with advancement and innovation comes the opportunity
to abuse the rapid spread of the electronic world," said Stuart
McIrvine, director if IBM's security strategy. "They are also
cognizant that they need to protect themselves from this emerging
threat, in much the same way that they would protect themselves from
the threat of a physical crime. As awareness of these new threats
emerges, it is key that consumers, business and government agencies
work together to ensure that everything from education to retail is
protected to help alleviate public worry about cybercrimes."


Increased anxiety about the possibility of a cyber attack leads to
changed consumer behavior. Thus, the study also finds that more than
53 percent of Americans hold themselves most responsible for
protecting themselves from cybercrime, instilling less trust in
security companies, law enforcement agencies and Websites. As most of
the following results show, Americans are changing their own behavior
to protect themselves against cyber attack. For example:



-- 85 percent destroy all documents that have personal information or

they attempt to securely store the information

-- 70 percent only use Internet shopping sites that display a security

protection seal

-- 64 percent don't conduct online transactions on a shared computer

-- 50 percent don't use shared wireless networks such as in a coffee shop

or airport

-- 38 percent don't bank online

-- 37 percent don't use credit card information online



In the last 12 months, survey respondents have taken certain actions
to protect themselves against the growing cybercrime threat:



-- 29% have stopped reading credit or debit card information over the

phone

-- 27% have stopped buying from unfamiliar retailers

-- 18% have stopped paying bills online

-- 16% have stopped playing online games



Methodology: Opinion Research Corporation conducted this survey on
behalf of IBM. A total of 679 telephone interviews were conducted with
adults comprising of 337 males and 342 females age 18 or older, living
in private households in the continental United States. Completed
interviews were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic
region, and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of
total population of 18 years and older. Respondents qualified for the
survey based on home or office access to the Internet. The
questionnaire consisted of ten closed-ended questions, not including
screeners or demographics, and was fielded at the 95 percent
confidence level with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.


About IBM


IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80
years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on
resources from across IBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a
wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable
customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of
on demand business. For more information about IBM, visit
http://www.ibm.com.