Intel Security Reveals Security Risks Associated with Unsafe Online Search Trends
May 17 2016 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
New Study Indicates 88 Percent of Consumers
Consider Dangers but Click Promotional Diet and Fitness Pop-Ups
Regardless
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Timed with summer holiday season, Intel
Security conducted a study to understand consumer behaviors when
searching online for diet and fitness programs, and to help educate
them about potential risks.
- The study highlights various ways
cybercriminals take advantage of the public’s interest in dieting
programs, and focuses on what behaviors consumers engage in that
may open them up to online security dangers.
Intel Security today released findings from its new study,
“Online Security Diet: You Are What You Click,” which examines the
online behaviors and attitudes of Americans ages 21 to 54 toward
dieting clickbait. The research revealed that when it comes to the
desire for the ideal body, people may be willing to sacrifice their
online security if it takes them a step closer to achieving desired
results.
With the summer season approaching, May is a popular month to
start a new diet routine, and people are turning online for quick
solutions. Thanks to better weather, more hours of sunlight and
planned vacations, consumers have more opportunities to be active,
which kick-starts a new wave of diets long after New Year’s
resolutions come to an end.
“Cybercriminals are becoming increasingly savvy at understanding
the seasonality of consumer search habits and exploiting that
information to their full potential,” said Gary Davis, chief
consumer security evangelist at Intel Security. “As such, it is
increasingly important people understand safe online searching
behavior and how to identify potentially risky sites and emails.
This is why we continue to invest in ongoing education efforts to
reinforce strong habits that help consumers enjoy safer online
experiences.”
Study highlights include:
Dieting Promotions: Too Good to be True?
- 61 percent of survey respondents have
clicked on a promotional link that offers a diet program.
- 57 percent of survey respondents would
most likely click on a promotional link for a diet program before
the summer.
- 37 percent of respondents are more
likely to click on a promotional link or an article offering
dietary tips featuring or endorsed by a celebrity.
Think Before You Click
- 30 percent of survey respondents have
purchased a service or product from a promotional link without
knowing whether or not it’s a secure site.
- Almost half of respondents would be
likely to click on a promotional link for diet programs generated
by a Google* search (47 percent), with others reporting they would
click links featured on Facebook* (42 percent), a website (31
percent), or within an app that they already use (28 percent).
Beware of What You Share
- Many respondents report they are
willing to share information like email address (65 percent), full
name (51 percent) or age (50 percent) with a website, service or
company in hopes of reaching their goal weight or dream body.
- Yet 35 percent of respondents don’t
know how to check if a website is secure before providing payment
details or personal information.
How You Can Better Protect Yourself to Avoid Online Diet
Scams:
- Click with caution. Offers from
sites that seem too good to be true, such as “Lose 10 pounds in one
week,” may indicate that a site should be viewed with caution.
Websites or emails might include phishing links that can lead you
to websites that lure you into giving personal information to
cybercriminals or download malware to your computer.
- Browse safely. Beware of phony
websites. Sites aimed at scamming consumers may have an address
very similar to a legitimate site, like “Wait Watchers” opposed to
“Weight Watchers.” Phony sites often have misspellings, poor
grammar or low-resolution images. If a site asks for personal
information, double check the URL, and make sure it’s the site you
intended to visit and not an imposter. Use a web reputation tool
such as McAfee WebAdvisor that can help identify risky sites and
inform you that you may be about to visit one.
- Develop strong passwords. Do
away with the “123321” password, and use a strong one, like
“9&4yiw2pyqx#.” Regularly change passwords and don’t use the
same passwords across all your accounts. As a way to improve the
quality of your passwords, consider using a password manager.
- Stay up to date. The best
security software updates automatically to protect your computer.
Use the manufacturer’s latest operating systems and allow security
patches to be updated on an ongoing basis. Also ensure you have the
appropriate software set to conduct routine scans.
- Use a comprehensive security
solution. Protecting all your devices with a comprehensive
security solution, like McAfee LiveSafe, can help shield you from
malware and other cyberattacks.
Find more information:
- Blog post from Gary Davis:
http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/the-security-diet
- To join the conversation on social
media, use #securitydiet
You can also visit the Intel Security Facebook page at
facebook.com/intelsecurity and McAfee Security Advice Center for
information on the latest consumer threats and tips for living
safer online.
Study Methodology
In April 2016, Intel Security commissioned MSI International to
conduct an online global study among 15,000 consumers between the
ages of 21 to 54, evenly split among age and gender.
About Intel Security
Intel Security, with its McAfee product line, is dedicated to
making the digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel
Security is a division of Intel Corporation. Learn more
at www.intelsecurity.com.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of
others.
No computer system can be absolutely secure.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160517005207/en/
Intel SecurityMary Salvaggio,
646-527-5858mary.salvaggio@intel.comorZeno GroupJuliana Sheldon,
310-566-3989Juliana.sheldon@zenogroup.com
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