The average loss reported by the 2441 respondents was ￡875 ($US1717/$A2134).

An explanation may be found in the fact that slightly less than half of the respondents said they were responsible for their own online safety.

Pat McFadden, Minister with responsibility for Transformational Government, said "[W]e need users to take the same basic precautions in using the internet as they would when making transactions in the high street – such as not sharing your bank details or passwords.

"This Survey shows that although the Internet offers great opportunities for people to carry out their business when and how they like, people must also take care if we are to stop criminals abusing greater popular use of the Net."

Britons aren't all taking basic precautions, though things are improving slightly. 17 percent still have no antivirus software, and 22 percent aren't using a firewall. 20 percent hadn't updated their antivirus software in the previous month, 23 percent had opened a file attached to an email from an unknown source, and more than half used the same password on multiple web sites.

The survey found 52 percent of the UK's 29 million adult Internet users bank online, 32 percent pay utility bills online and an amazing 23 percent buy groceries online. UK online retail sales totalled £13.5 billion in the first half of 2006, according to Neilsen/Netratings.

On the other hand, the fear of crime is putting people off Internet services. 24 percent of respondents avoid Internet banking, 21 percent shun financial management sites, 18 percent won't shop on line, and a worrying 17 percent have been put off using the Internet all together.{moscomment}

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Government  Internet  Malware  Phishing  Security  Stephen Withers  Viruses