Survey: 34 Percent Of Canadians Very Concerned With Their Online Security

Calgary, Alberta (AHN) - A new study released Tuesday by Ipsos Reid showed that only 34 percent of Canadians are very concerned with their online security. It is a significant drop by 13 percent from a similar survey made in 2003.

Age of the survey respondents have been linked to concern with online security. About 82 percent of Canadians aged 35 and above expressed concern with online security, while only 72 percent had the same opinion among those in the age brackets 18 to 34.

Study author Mark Laver explained the shift in attitude to more familiarity with online transactions. "As more Canadians bank online, pay bills and purchase products and services online users clearly see the Internet as being more secure. As such their corresponding level of concern has declined," Laver said in a statement.

Another survey supported the Ipsos Reid study that more financial transactions are being made by Canadians online, particularly online stock trading. New accounts went up at 19 to 26 percent annually, while Website visits jumped 53 percent and online tour traffic grew 40 percent.

According to the Globe Investor's ranking, the reason behind the growing popularity of online stock trading are lower transaction fees, wider choice of investment and dissatisfaction with investment advisers.