• silicon.com
• Technology
• Networks

By silicon.com, 6 July 2004 15:50

A recent survey from credit card giant Visa provided some unsettling insights into the psyche of internet users in the UK.

More than two-thirds of respondents - 69 per cent to be exact - don't think it's safe to use a credit card online. And nearly half - 40 per cent - say they have an "irrational fear" of the internet.

This is not what we like to hear.

Yes, there are dangers lurking online, including viruses that can turn your PC into a spam-sending machine and phishing scams whereby con artists gain access to your bank accounts and other personal information.

But with a little common sense and by practising some 'safe surfing' - such as not clicking on email attachments from people you don't know and not typing your info into suspicious sites - these threats are easily avoided.

Some of us at silicon.com have used the web with great frequency for nearly a decade without any harm coming upon us.

Perhaps the media - silicon.com included - may share the blame. Has there been too much attention given to security and malware, to the latest viruses and hack attacks? Have headlines been too sensational? Have we not explained clearly which threats are real and how you can avoid them?

'Irrational fear' is bad in all arenas for the mere reason that it leads to panic and unreasonable behaviour - and that is exactly what you don't need when dealing with online hoaxers. You need to be calm and clear-thinking and you need to keep your head.

Instead of "irrational fear", we'd like to hear internet users choose words like "cautious" and "prudent" to describe their feelings about the web.

Because, of course, you should be careful when giving your credit card number to an e-tailer, just as we hope you are when shopping at a store. But don't be scared - you're only risking falling prey to the fear tactics of a spotty-faced teenager and missing out on lots that's good about the web.