Online shoppers not worried by sharing info

UK consumers feel the benefits of having personal information stored by retail websites far exceed the risks - even though they aren't sure what the risks actually are.

More than two thirds (72 per cent) of people quizzed said they acknowledge there are risks with having personal and financial information stored by websites - but these concerns aren't enough to outweigh the convenience.

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In the survey conducted by communications consultancy, The Aziz Corporation, 64 per cent of respondents said they find it useful for websites to store card information to save time when they next visit the website.

But 73 per cent of respondents admitted they do not fully understand the risks around having details stored online.

Professor Khalid Aziz, chairman of The Aziz Corporation, said people wouldn't communicate most personal financial information to a stranger on the street - but this is effectively what happens on some websites.

Aziz added it is important people aren't afraid to question technology and to ask what their personal information is used for.

The survey also found 73 per cent of people feel it is an invasion of privacy for organisations to know what they look at on websites. And 81 per cent consider it 'completely unacceptable' for information to be passed on to third parties.

The research surveyed 200 senior managers and directors from major UK companies.