- Nearly two in five (37 percent) have opened e-mails from unknown senders.
- About one in seven (13 percent) have clicked on links in e-mails from unknown senders.
- More than one in seven (16 percent) have given out personal information on a Web site when the information was "optional."
- About one in ten (9 percent) have opened attachments in e-mails from unknown senders.
- Six percent have responded to e-mails claiming there was a problem with their account; they owe money, they are owed money or have an opportunity to make money.
Further, the majority of online adults indicated that a lot or a moderate amount of responsibility for protecting against phishing attacks lies with both themselves (89 percent) and their service providers (82 percent).
"We were surprised to see that, despite increased consumer awareness about phishing, many are still participating in potentially dangerous online behavior," said Bassam Khan, vice president of marketing, Cloudmark. "It is nearly impossible for consumers to keep up with the large volume and sophistication of today's phishing attacks on their own. Some phishing sites are so realistic that they fool even the savviest Internet user. This survey highlights the growing problem and emphasizes the need for consumers and service providers to be actively involved in protecting themselves and their customers against phishing and other forms of online threats."
Among those who indicated that they are more concerned about phishing attacks, some have actually changed their behavior by decreasing certain online activities. This change can negatively impact online business and transactions: 29 percent only use certain credit cards or accounts when they shop online; 21 percent only pay certain bills online; and 20 percent have decreased the frequency of their online shopping.